Tumor suppressor TET1 and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for assessing the risk of cancer in a subject by detecting elevated methylation level in the genomic sequence of the TET1 gene, which leads to suppressed expression of this gene. A kit and device useful for practicing such a method are also provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/511,630, filed May 26, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated in the entirety for all purposes.

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING” SUBMITTED AS ASCII TEXT FILES VIA EFS-WEB

The Sequence Listing written in file 080015-022210US-1088068_SequenceListing.txt created on Aug. 14, 2018, 55,934 bytes, machine format IBM-PC, MS-Windows operating system, in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.821- to 1.825, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with approximately 15 million new cases diagnosed in each year of this decade. The number of new cases is expected to rise by about 70% over the next 2 decades. The second leading cause of death globally, cancer was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. The cost for treating cancer is extremely high: for example, in the year of 2014, approximately 88 billion US dollars was spent for cancer treatment in this country alone.

Diagnosis of cancer can be challenging. Although family history may provide useful implications for diagnosis, a significant percentage of cancer occurs in people with little or no genetic risk. Depending on the specific type, symptoms of cancer may not be detectable until the disease has developed to an advanced stage or even has already spread from the primary location to secondary locations (i.e., metastasized). Such delay in diagnosis can make treatment of cancer difficult or even completely ineffective, resulting in poor prognosis.

Because of the high prevalence of cancer and the vital importance of early diagnosis on patients' life expectancy, there exists an urgent need for new and more effective methods to diagnose, monitor, and treat cancer. This invention fulfills this and other related needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present inventors have identified TET1 as a novel tumor suppressor and diagnostic/prognostic marker for multiple types of human cancer, for example, nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), esophageal cancer (ESCC), lung cancer, hepatocellular cancer (HCC), cervical cancer, renal cancer, and prostate cancer, as well as blood malignancies such as leukemias and lymphomas. More specifically, the inventors show that, compared with normal individuals, CpG islands of the TET1 gene (especially in the promoter region) are hypermethylated in biological samples of cancer tissues from cancer patients. Such hypermethylation leads to TET1 silencing at both mRNA and protein levels.

As such, in the first aspect, the present invention provides a method for assessing the risk for cancer in a subject, i.e., the likelihood of cancer being present in the subject and/or the likelihood of the subject developing cancer at a later time. The method includes the steps of: (a) treating DNA from a biological sample taken from the subject with an agent that differentially modifies methylated and unmethylated DNA; (b) determining number of methylated CpGs in a genomic sequence, which is SEQ ID NO:1 or 2, or a fragment thereof comprising at least 5 CpGs, and (c) comparing the number of methylated CpGs determined in step (b) with the number of methylated CpGs in the same genomic sequence from a non-cancer biological sample of the same type and processed through steps (a) and (b); and (d) determining the subject, whose sample contains more methylated CpGs in the genomic sequence determined in step (b) compared to the number of methylated CpGs in the genomic sequence from the non-cancer sample and processed through steps (a) to (b), as having an increased risk for cancer compared with a healthy subject not diagnosed with cancer.

In some embodiments, the biological sample is a tissue sample, such as a nasopharyngeal sample (testing for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, NPC), esophageal tissue sample (testing for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC), lung tissue sample, hepatocellular tissue sample (testing for hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC), breast tissue sample, cervical tissue sample, renal tissue sample, or prostate tissue sample. In some cases, the sample is a nasal or oral swab. In other cases, the sample is a blood sample, for example, an all blood cell sample, a white blood cell sample, or a platelet cell sample. In some embodiments, the agent that differentially modifies methylated DNA and unmethylated DNA is an enzyme that preferentially cleaves methylated DNA, an enzyme that preferentially cleaves unmethylated DNA, or the agent may comprise a bisulfite. In some embodiments, step (b) comprises an amplification reaction, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In some embodiments, step (b) comprises a polynucleotide sequencing reaction. In some embodiments, step (b) comprises a polynucleotide hybridization assay.

In some embodiments, the CpG-containing genomic sequence being at least a segment of SEQ ID NO:1 or SEQ ID NO:2 and comprising at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or more and up to 39 CpG pairs. When the presence of at least one, or at least 5, or at least 12 methylated CpGs (for example, at least 50% of total CpGs), is detected in the CpG-containing genomic sequence, it indicates that the subject may have cancer or is at an increased risk of developing cancer, especially in the organ or tissue corresponding to the test sample. For example, if methylation is detected in a breast tissue sample, the increased risk of breast cancer is detected. In some cases, the number of methylated CpGs is compared with a control number, e.g., the number of methylated CpGs in the same genomic sequence determined following the same process described above using a sample of the same type from non-cancerous tissue originated from a healthy control subject who has been determined as having no cancer or no known risk for cancer. When the number of methylated CpGs is higher in the test subject compared to the control number, the test subject is determined as having cancer or having an increased risk for cancer; otherwise the test subject is determined as not having cancer or not having any elevated risk for developing cancer.

In some embodiments, the CpG-containing genomic sequence contains at least five and optionally more CpGs (e.g., 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 CpGs), and when at least 50% of all CpGs being highly methylated (for example, at least 20 of the 39 CpGs in SEQ ID NO:1 being highly or nearly 100% methylated) or when at least 90% of all CpGs being at least 50% methylated (for example, at least 35 of the 39 CpGs in SEQ ID NO:1 being moderately or 50-100% methylated), the subject is indicated as having or at an increased risk for cancer. In some cases, the CpG-containing genomic sequence is a segment of at least 15, 20, 50, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, or more contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO:1. In other cases, the CpG-containing genomic sequence is SEQ ID NO:1. In one embodiment of the claimed method, the CpG-containing genomic sequence is SEQ ID NO:2, a segment of SEQ ID NO:1, and when at least 5, 10, 12, 15, 20, or more of all CpGs in this CpG-containing genomic sequence are methylated (at least 50% and up to 100% methylated), the subject is indicated as having cancer or having an increased risk for cancer.

In some embodiments, the agent used in the claimed method to differentially modify methylated DNA and unmethylated DNA is an enzyme that preferentially cleaves methylated DNA, an enzyme that preferentially cleaves unmethylated DNA, or a bisulfite (e.g., sodium bisulfite). In other embodiments, step (b) of the method involves an amplification reaction; or step (b) may involve sequencing of a DNA molecule.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a kit for assessing cancer risk in a subject. The kit comprises (1) two oligonucleotide primers capable of specifically amplifying a genomic sequence of human TET1 gene, such as SEQ ID NO:1 (+151 to +534 of TET1 genomic sequence, +1 denoting translation start) or SEQ ID NO:2 (+221 to +393 of TET1 genomic sequence) or a fragment thereof comprising at least 5 CpGs; and (2) an agent that differentially modifies methylated DNA and unmethylated DNA. In some embodiments, the agent in (2) is an enzyme that preferentially cleaves methylated DNA, an enzyme that preferentially cleaves unmethylated DNA, or a bisulfite. In some embodiments, the genomic sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1 comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 CpGs, or the genomic sequence is SEQ ID NO:1. In some embodiments, the kit further comprises an oligonucleotide probe for specifically hybridizing with at least a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1 comprising at least 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 CpGs or the complement thereof, for example, the probe may specifically hybridize with a fragment or the full length of SEQ ID NO:1 in the unmethylated version after bisulfite treatment; or the probe may specifically hybridize with a fragment or the full length of SEQ ID NO:1 in the methylated version after bisulfite treatment. The probe is labeled with a detectable moiety for ready detection. Typically, the kit will further include an instruction manual.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIGS. 1A-1B CpG methylome study identified TET1 as a methylated target in multiple cancers. (FIG. 1A) Representative methylome data. TET1 gene structure, promoter and exon 1 (NCBI database GRCh37.p13) are shown on the top panel. E1: exon 1. Positive methylation signal peaks identified by MeDIP-chip are shown in pink shadow for: NPC xenografts (C15, C18) and primary tumor (OCT83), ESCC cell lines (KYSE140, KYSE510), HCC cell lines (HuH7, HepG2) and primary tumor (HCC418T), NKTCL cell lines (SNK6, NK-YS) and primary tumor (NK1). (FIG. 1B) Expression of TET family genes (TET1, -2, -3) in human normal adult and fetal tissues. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR detected the expression of all TET genes in adult tissues, with GAPDH as a control. Sk.M., skeleton muscle.

FIGS. 2A-2E TET1 is downregulated and methylated in multiple cancers. (FIG. 2A) Structure of the TET1 promoter CpG island (CGI). CpG sites are shown as short vertical lines. MSP primer sites and BGS region analyzed are also indicated. (FIG. 2B) TET1 methylation was not detected in not-bisulfited DNA samples, indicating that the MSP system is specific. m4/m8 represents specific MSP primer set of TET1 methylation detection. (FIGS. 2C, 2D) TET1 was frequently silenced and methylated in multiple carcinoma and lymphoma cell lines, detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and MSP, but expressed and unmethylated in immortalized but non-transformed normal epithelial cell lines (with names green underlined). M, methylated; U, unmethylated. (FIG. 2E) Abundant expression of TET2 and TET3 in TET1-downregulated tumor cell lines. Ca, carcinoma; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; CRC, colorectal cancer; RCC, renal cancer; NKTCL, nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

FIGS. 3A-3C Demethylation treatment could reactivate TET1 expression in silenced tumor cell lines. (FIG. 3A) Detection of TET1 methylation in multiple tumor cell lines and normal cell lines by BGS. (FIG. 3B) Treatment with Aza or combined with TSA (A+T) demethylated TET1 promoter in silenced cell lines of multiple tissue types. Expression and methylation changes were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and MSP. (FIG. 3C) BGS analysis of TET1 promoter in cell lines with or without treatment. NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; CRC, colorectal cancer; BrCa, breast cancer; RCC, renal cancer; Ca, carcinoma.

FIGS. 4A-4E Frequent methylation of TET1 in multiple primary tumors. TET1 promoter methylation in (FIG. 4A) multiple primary tumors and (FIG. 4B) nose swab samples from NPC patients, detected by MSP. (FIG. 4C) TET1 methylation is barely seen in normal tissues by MSP analysis. (FIG. 4D) Representative BGS analysis of TET1 promoter methylation in primary tumors and normal tissues. Circles, CpG sites analyzed; row of circles, an individual promoter allele that was cloned, randomly selected and sequenced; filled circle, methylated CpG site; open circle, unmethylated site. (FIG. 4E) Levels of TET1 mRNA expression in representative paired tumor (T)/normal (N) tissues, and primary tumor tissues (NPC), measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Ca, carcinoma; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; CRC, colorectal cancer; RCC, renal cancer; GsCa, gastric cancer; Sk. muscle, skeleton muscle; S. intestine, small intestine.

FIGS. 5A-5C Gene mutation analysis of TET1 in human cancers. Somatic mutations of TET1 gene in human cancers were analyzed using the COSMIC database. (FIG. 5A) Frequencies and (FIG. 5B) distributions of TET1 mutations. (FIG. 5C) Diagram displaying complete TET1 mutation spectrum identified and their distribution in the coding region of TET1.

FIGS. 6A-6F TET1 functions as a tumor suppressor in multiple tumor cells. (FIG. 6A) Structure and functional domains of the human TET1 protein, containing a C-terminal CD domain including the Cys-rich and DSBH regions, and a CXXC domain (SEQ ID NO:51). The positions of three nuclear localization sequences (NLS) are shown. TET1 catalytic domain (TET1-CD) containing the Cys-rich and DSBH regions and TET1 mutant (TET1-CD-mut) with two amino acid substitutions (H1672A; D1674A) in the catalytic domain are also shown. (FIG. 6B) Ectopic expression of TET1-CD inhibited tumor cell growth of multiple tissue types. Representative colony formation assays of TET1-CD- and TET1-CD-mut-expressing tumor cells of nasopharyngeal, esophageal, gastric, colon, and breast cancers are shown. Quantitative analyses of colony numbers are shown as values of mean±S.D. (lower panel), ***p<0.001. NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; GsCa, gastric cancer; CRC, colorectal cancer; BrCa, breast cancer. (FIG. 6C) Ectopic expression of TET1-CD induced tumor cell apoptosis. TET1-CD, TET1-CD-mut, and vector-expressing NPC tumor cells (HONE1) were analyzed by TUNEL assays. (FIG. 6D) TET1-CD upregulated multiple TSGs expression in tumor cells, as examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. (FIG. 6E) TET1-CD upregulated multiple TSGs expression as measured by qRT-PCR in NPC (HNE1) cells. Fold changes of TSGs expression in TET1-CD and TET1-CD-mut-transcfected cells were calculated by normalizing towards vector-expressing cells (set 1.0). GAPDH was used as an internal control. Data are shown as mean±SD of three independent experiments. *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. (FIG. 6F) Detection of promoters methylation of HOXA9, SLIT2 and ZNF382 genes by MSP in TET1-CD and TET1-CD-mut-expressing tumor cells.

FIG. 7. Proposed model of a DNA methylation feedback loop mediated by DNMTs/CpG methylation and TET1 during human tumorigenesis. When normal cells are exposed to carcinogens (chemical carcinogens, tumor viruses, . . . etc), DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) are induced, upregulated or overactivated, which further generates higher levels of DNA CpG methylation (5mC). Elevated level of 5mC on tumor suppressor gene (TSG) promoters lead to TSGs silencing and functional inactivation, ultimately to tumorigenesis. Ten-eleven-translocation (TET) proteins catalyze DNA CpG demethylation through converting 5mC to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), maintaining a delicate balance between CpG methylation and demethylation in normal cells. While in premalignant or tumor cells, CpG demethylation by TET would induce TSG promoter demethylation and functional restoration for further tumor suppression. Thus unlike normal cells where TET proteins are abundant, loss of TET1 expression through promoter CpG methylation frequently occurs in tumor cells, which in turn, increases 5mC levels and promotes TSG inactivation in tumor pathogenesis.

FIGS. 8A-8B TET1 methylation in other tumor cell lines. (FIG. 8A) TET2 and TET3 are readily expressed in multiple carcinoma, non-Hodgkin (NHL) and nasal NK/T-cell (NKTCL) lymphoma cell lines except for two, detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR with same cDNA samples as used in FIG. 2. (FIG. 8B) Examination of TET1 expression and methylation in hepatocellular, bladder, prostate cancer cell lines, and melanoma cell lines. Ca, carcinoma; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; CRC, colorectal cancer; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; CxCa, cervical cancer; RCC, renal cancer.

FIG. 9. Detection of TET1 methylation by MSP in primary tumors of esophageal (ESCC), lung, hepatocellular (HCC), prostate, endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Ca, carcinoma.

FIGS. 10A-10B TET1 expression was broadly reduced in multiple human cancers. Analysis of TET1 mRNA expression using (FIG. 10A) the GENT and (FIG. 10B) the Oncomine databases. TET1 was found to be significantly downregulated in different types of tumors, compared to normal controls. Ca, carcinoma; CRC, colon cancer; ccRCC, clear cell renal cell carcinoma; CxCa, cervical cancer; OvCa, ovarian cancer; CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

FIGS. 11A-11C Genetic deletion analysis of TET1 in multiple tumor cell lines. (FIGS. 11A, 11B) TET1 deletion was examined by multiplex differential genomic DNA-PCR using primers targeting two regions spanning exon 2 or exon 4, with GAPDH as an internal control. TET1 expression and methylation status in each sample is shown in bottom panels. Red-colored cell lines are considered as with hemizygous deletions. +, expressed; d, downregulated or silenced; M, methylated; U, unmethylated. (FIG. 11C) Alterations of TET1 DNA copy number in human cancers, analyzed using the Oncomine database. NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; GsCa, gastric cancer; CRC, colorectal cancer; BrCa, breast cancer; CxCa, cervical cancer; RCC, renal cancer; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma; HL, Hodgkin lymphoma; NKTCL, nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma; HNSCC, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; Ca, carcinoma.

DEFINITIONS

The term “TET1 gene,” as used herein, refers to any naturally occurring variants or mutants, interspecies homologs or orthologs, or man-made variants of human TET1 gene. The DNA sequence for a human wild-type TET1 mRNA is set forth in GenBank Accession No. NM_030625.2 (provided herein as SEQ ID NO:3), which translate to a coding sequence (provided herein as SEQ ID NO:4) for a 2136-amino acid TET1 protein (set forth in GenBank Accession No. NP_085128.2, provided herein as SEQ ID NO:5), wherein the catalytic domain of TET1 is the 1418 to 2136 fragment of SEQ ID NO:5, the actual sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6. A TET1 protein within the meaning of this application typically has at least 80%, or 90%, or 95% or higher sequence identity to the human wild-type TET1 protein (e.g., SEQ ID NO:5).

In this disclosure the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

As used herein, the term “gene expression” is used to refer to the transcription of a DNA to form an RNA molecule encoding a particular protein (e.g., human TET1 protein) or the translation of a protein encoded by a polynucleotide sequence. In other words, both mRNA level and protein level encoded by a gene of interest (e.g., human TET1 gene) are encompassed by the term “gene expression level” in this disclosure.

In this disclosure the term “biological sample” includes sections of tissues such as biopsy and autopsy samples, and frozen sections taken for histologic purposes, or processed forms of any of such samples. Biological samples include blood and blood fractions or products (e.g., serum, plasma, platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, all blood cells, and the like), sputum or saliva, lymph and tongue tissue, cultured cells, e.g., primary cultures, explants, and transformed cells, stool, urine, or tumor biopsy tissue etc. A biological sample is typically obtained from a eukaryotic organism, which may be a mammal, may be a primate and may be a human subject.

In this disclosure the term “biopsy” refers to the process of removing a tissue sample for diagnostic or prognostic evaluation, and to the tissue specimen itself. Any biopsy technique known in the art can be applied to the diagnostic and prognostic methods of the present invention. The biopsy technique applied will depend on the tissue type to be evaluated (e.g., tongue, prostate, kidney, bladder, lymph node, liver, bone marrow, blood cells, etc.) among other factors. Representative biopsy techniques include, but are not limited to, excisional biopsy, incisional biopsy, needle biopsy, surgical biopsy, and bone marrow biopsy. A wide range of biopsy techniques are well known to those skilled in the art who will choose between them and implement them with minimal experimentation.

In this disclosure the term “isolated” nucleic acid molecule means a nucleic acid molecule that is separated from other nucleic acid molecules that are usually associated with the isolated nucleic acid molecule. Thus, an “isolated” nucleic acid molecule includes, without limitation, a nucleic acid molecule that is free of nucleotide sequences that naturally flank one or both ends of the nucleic acid in the genome of the organism from which the isolated nucleic acid is derived (e.g., a cDNA or genomic DNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease digestion). Such an isolated nucleic acid molecule is generally introduced into a vector (e.g., a cloning vector or an expression vector) for convenience of manipulation or to generate a fusion nucleic acid molecule. In addition, an isolated nucleic acid molecule can include an engineered nucleic acid molecule such as a recombinant or a synthetic nucleic acid molecule. A nucleic acid molecule existing among hundreds to millions of other nucleic acid molecules within, for example, a nucleic acid library (e.g., a cDNA or genomic library) or a gel (e.g., agarose, or polyacrylamine) containing restriction-digested genomic DNA, is not an “isolated” nucleic acid.

The term “nucleic acid” or “polynucleotide” refers to deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) or ribonucleic acids (RNA) and polymers thereof in either single- or double-stranded form.

Unless specifically limited, the term encompasses nucleic acids containing known analogs of natural nucleotides that have similar binding properties as the reference nucleic acid and are metabolized in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides. Unless otherwise indicated, a particular nucleic acid sequence also implicitly encompasses conservatively modified variants thereof (e.g., degenerate codon substitutions), alleles, orthologs, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and complementary sequences as well as the sequence explicitly indicated. Specifically, degenerate codon substitutions may be achieved by generating sequences in which the third position of one or more selected (or all) codons is substituted with mixed-base and/or deoxyinosine residues (Batzer et al., Nucleic Acid Res. 19:5081 (1991); Ohtsuka et al., J. Biol. Chem. 260:2605-2608 (1985); and Rossolini et al., Mol. Cell. Probes 8:91-98 (1994)). The term nucleic acid is used interchangeably with gene, cDNA, and mRNA encoded by a gene.

The term “gene” means the segment of DNA involved in producing a polypeptide chain; it includes regions preceding and following the coding region (leader and trailer) involved in the transcription/translation of the gene product and the regulation of the transcription/translation, as well as intervening sequences (introns) between individual coding segments (exons).

In this application, the terms “polypeptide,” “peptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers and non-naturally occurring amino acid polymers. As used herein, the terms encompass amino acid chains of any length, including full-length proteins (i.e., antigens), wherein the amino acid residues are linked by covalent peptide bonds.

The term “amino acid” refers to refers to naturally occurring and synthetic amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function in a manner similar to the naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally occurring amino acids are those encoded by the genetic code, as well as those amino acids that are later modified, e.g., hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, and O-phosphoserine. For the purposes of this application, amino acid analogs refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, i.e., an a carbon that is bound to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, e.g., homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium. Such analogs have modified R groups (e.g., norleucine) or modified peptide backbones, but retain the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid. For the purposes of this application, amino acid mimetics refers to chemical compounds that have a structure that is different from the general chemical structure of an amino acid, but that functions in a manner similar to a naturally occurring amino acid.

Amino acids may include those having non-naturally occurring D-chirality, as disclosed in WO01/12654, which may improve the stability (e.g., half-life), bioavailability, and other characteristics of a polypeptide comprising one or more of such D-amino acids. In some cases, one or more, and potentially all of the amino acids of a therapeutic polypeptide have D-chirality.

Amino acids may be referred to herein by either the commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.

As used in herein, the terms “identical” or percent “identity,” in the context of describing two or more polynucleotide or amino acid sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same (for example, a variant TET1 protein such as its catalytic domain used in the method of this invention (e.g., for treating cervical cancer) has at least 80% sequence identity, preferably 85%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 100% identity, to a reference sequence, e.g., a wild-type human TET1 protein catalytic domain), when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window, or designated region as measured using one of the following sequence comparison algorithms or by manual alignment and visual inspection. Such sequences are then said to be “substantially identical.” With regard to polynucleotide sequences, this definition also refers to the complement of a test sequence. Preferably, the identity exists over a region that is at least about 50 amino acids or nucleotides in length, or more preferably over a region that is 75-100 amino acids or nucleotides in length.

For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters. For sequence comparison of nucleic acids and proteins, the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms and the default parameters discussed below are used.

A “comparison window”, as used herein, includes reference to a segment of any one of the number of contiguous positions selected from the group consisting of from 20 to 600, usually about 50 to about 200, more usually about 100 to about 150 in which a sequence may be compared to a reference sequence of the same number of contiguous positions after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well-known in the art. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482 (1981), by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443 (1970), by the search for similarity method of Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444 (1988), by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al., eds. 1995 supplement)).

Examples of algorithms that are suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity are the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Altschul et al., (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215: 403-410 and Altschul et al. (1977) Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402, respectively. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available at the National Center for Biotechnology Information website, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. The algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits acts as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are then extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always <0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a word size (W) of 28, an expectation (E) of 10, M=1, N=−2, and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a word size (W) of 3, an expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1989)).

The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences (see, e.g., Karlin and Altschul, Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787 (1993)). One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid is less than about 0.2, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

An indication that two nucleic acid sequences or polypeptides are substantially identical is that the polypeptide encoded by the first nucleic acid is immunologically cross reactive with the antibodies raised against the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid, as described below. Thus, a polypeptide is typically substantially identical to a second polypeptide, for example, where the two peptides differ only by conservative substitutions. Another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the two molecules or their complements hybridize to each other under stringent conditions, as described below. Yet another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the same primers can be used to amplify the sequence.

In this disclosure the terms “stringent hybridization conditions” and “high stringency” refer to conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target subsequence, typically in a complex mixture of nucleic acids, but to no other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in Tijssen, Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology—Hybridization with Nucleic Probes, “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid assays” (1993) and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5-10° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength pH. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium (as the target sequences are present in excess, at T_(m), 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. For selective or specific hybridization, a positive signal is at least two times background, preferably 10 times background hybridization. Exemplary stringent hybridization conditions can be as following: 50% formamide, 5×SSC, and 1% SDS, incubating at 42° C., or, 5×SSC, 1% SDS, incubating at 65° C., with wash in 0.2×SSC, and 0.1% SDS at 65° C.

Nucleic acids that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the polypeptides which they encode are substantially identical. This occurs, for example, when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code. In such cases, the nucleic acids typically hybridize under moderately stringent hybridization conditions. Exemplary “moderately stringent hybridization conditions” include a hybridization in a buffer of 40% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 1×SSC at 45° C. A positive hybridization is at least twice background. Those of ordinary skill will readily recognize that alternative hybridization and wash conditions can be utilized to provide conditions of similar stringency. Additional guidelines for determining hybridization parameters are provided in numerous references, e.g., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, ed. Ausubel, et al.

An “expression cassette” is a nucleic acid construct, generated recombinantly or synthetically, with a series of specified nucleic acid elements that permit transcription of a particular polynucleotide sequence in a host cell. An expression cassette may be part of a plasmid, viral genome, or nucleic acid fragment. Typically, an expression cassette includes a polynucleotide to be transcribed, operably linked to a promoter. “Operably linked” in this context means two or more genetic elements, such as a polynucleotide coding sequence and a promoter, placed in relative positions that permit the proper biological functioning of the elements, such as the promoter directing transcription of the coding sequence. Other elements that may be present in an expression cassette include those that enhance transcription (e.g., enhancers) and terminate transcription (e.g., terminators), as well as those that confer certain binding affinity or antigenicity to the recombinant protein produced from the expression cassette.

The term “bisulfite” as used herein encompasses all types of bisulfites, such as sodium bisulfite, that are capable of chemically converting a cytosine (C) to a uracil (U) without chemically modifying a methylated cytosine and therefore can be used to differentially modify a DNA sequence based on the methylation status of the DNA.

As used herein, a reagent that “differentially modifies” methylated or non-methylated DNA encompasses any reagent that reacts differentially with methylated and unmethylated DNA in a process through which distinguishable products or quantitatively distinguishable results (e.g. degree of binding or precipitation) are generated from methylated and non-methylated DNA, thereby allowing the identification of the DNA methylation status. Such processes may include, but are not limited to, chemical reactions (such as an unmethylated C→U conversion by bisulfite), enzymatic treatment (such as cleavage by a methylation-dependent endonuclease), binding, and precipitation. Thus, an enzyme that preferentially cleaves methylated DNA is one capable of cleaving a DNA molecule at a much higher efficiency when the DNA is methylated, whereas an enzyme that preferentially cleaves unmethylated DNA exhibits a significantly higher efficiency when the DNA is not methylated. In the context of the present invention, a reagent that “differentially modifies” methylated and unmethylated DNA also refers to any reagent that exhibits differential ability in its binding to DNA sequences or precipitation of DNA sequences depending on their methylation status. One class of such reagents consists of methylated DNA binding proteins.

A “CpG-containing genomic sequence” as used herein refers to a segment of DNA sequence at a defined location in the genome of an individual. Typically, a “CpG-containing genomic sequence” is at least 15 contiguous nucleotides in length and contains at least one CpG pair. In some cases, it can be at least 18, 20, 25, 30, 50, 80, 100, 150, 180, 200, 250, 300, 350, or 380 contiguous nucleotides in length and contains at least 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 CpG pairs. For any one “CpG-containing genomic sequence” at a given location, e.g., within a region of the human TET1 genomic sequence (such as the region containing the promoter and exon 1, e.g., sequence segments shown in FIG. 2A), nucleotide sequence variations may exist from individual to individual and from allele to allele even for the same individual. Furthermore, a “CpG-containing genomic sequence” may encompass a nucleotide sequence transcribed or not transcribed for protein production, and the nucleotide sequence can be a protein-coding sequence, a non protein-coding sequence (such as a transcription promoter), or a combination thereof.

As used in this application, an “increase” or a “decrease” refers to a detectable positive or negative change in quantity from a comparison control, e.g., an established standard control (such as an average expression level of TET1 mRNA or TET1 protein or an average number of methylated CpGs in a given genomic sequence of TET1 found in non-cancerous tissue). An increase is a positive change that is typically at least 10%, or at least 20%, or 50%, or 100%, and can be as high as at least 2-fold or at least 5-fold or even 10-fold of the control value. Similarly, a decrease is a negative change that is typically at least 10%, or at least 20%, 30%, or 50%, or even as high as at least 80% or 90% of the control value. Other terms indicating quantitative changes or differences from a comparative basis, such as “more,” “less,” “higher,” and “lower,” are used in this application in the same fashion as described above. In contrast, the term “substantially the same” or “substantially lack of change” indicates little to no change in quantity from the standard control value, typically within ±10% of the standard control, or within ±5%, 2%, or even less variation from the standard control.

A “polynucleotide hybridization method” as used herein refers to a method for detecting the presence and/or quantity of a pre-determined polynucleotide sequence based on its ability to form Watson-Crick base-pairing, under appropriate hybridization conditions, with a polynucleotide probe of a known sequence. Examples of such hybridization methods include Southern blot, Northern blot, and in situ hybridization.

“Primers” as used herein refer to oligonucleotides that can be used in an amplification method, such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), to amplify a nucleotide sequence based on the polynucleotide sequence corresponding to a gene of interest, e.g., the cDNA or genomic sequence for human TET1 or a portion thereof. Typically at least one of the PCR primers for amplification of a polynucleotide sequence is sequence-specific for that polynucleotide sequence. The exact length of the primer will depend upon many factors, including temperature, source of the primer, and the method used. For example, for diagnostic and prognostic applications, depending on the complexity of the target sequence, the oligonucleotide primer typically contains at least 10, or 15, or 20, or 25 or more nucleotides, although it may contain fewer nucleotides or more nucleotides. The factors involved in determining the appropriate length of primer are readily known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The primers used in particular embodiments are shown in Table 1 of the disclosure where their specific applications are indicated. In this disclosure the term “primer pair” means a pair of primers that hybridize to opposite strands a target DNA molecule or to regions of the target DNA which flank a nucleotide sequence to be amplified. In this disclosure the term “primer site”, means the area of the target DNA or other nucleic acid to which a primer hybridizes.

A “label,” “detectable label,” or “detectable moiety” is a composition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, chemical, or other physical means. For example, useful labels include ³²P, fluorescent dyes, electron-dense reagents, enzymes (e.g., as commonly used in an ELISA), biotin, digoxigenin, or haptens and proteins that can be made detectable, e.g., by incorporating a radioactive component into the peptide or used to detect antibodies specifically reactive with the peptide. Typically a detectable label is attached to a probe or a molecule with defined binding characteristics (e.g., a polypeptide with a known binding specificity or a polynucleotide), so as to allow the presence of the probe (and therefore its binding target) to be readily detectable.

“Standard control” as used herein refers to a predetermined amount or concentration of a polynucleotide sequence or polypeptide, e.g., TET1 mRNA or protein, or a predetermined level of DNA methylation in TET1 gene, that is present in an established normal disease-free tissue sample, e.g., a normal epithelial tissue sample. The standard control value is suitable for the use of a method of the present invention, to serve as a basis for comparing the amount of TET1 mRNA or protein or methylation level of TET1 genomic sequence that is present in a test sample. An established sample serving as a standard control provides an average amount of TET1 mRNA or TET1 protein or average level of TET1 genomic sequence methylation that is typical for a tissue sample, such as blood or epithelial tissue sample (e.g., an oral or nasal swab) of an average, healthy human without any tumor especially cancer as conventionally defined. A standard control value may vary depending on the nature of the sample as well as other factors such as the gender, age, ethnicity of the subjects based on whom such a control value is established.

The term “average,” as used in the context of describing a human who is healthy, free of any type of cancer as conventionally defined, refers to certain characteristics, especially the amount of human TET1 mRNA or protein or the level of methylation in the TET1 genomic sequence, found in the person's tissue, e.g., epithelial tissue or mucosa, that are representative of a randomly selected group of healthy humans who are free of any malignant diseases (especially cancer). This selected group should comprise a sufficient number of humans such that the average amount of TET1 mRNA or protein or TET1 genomic sequence methylation level in the type of tissue among these individuals reflects, with reasonable accuracy, the corresponding amount of TET1 mRNA/protein or TET1 genomic methylation level in the general population of healthy humans. In addition, the selected group of humans generally have a similar age to that of a subject whose tissue sample is tested for indication of cancer. Moreover, other factors such as gender, ethnicity, medical history are also considered and preferably closely matching between the profiles of the test subject and the selected group of individuals establishing the “average” value.

The term “amount” as used in this application refers to the quantity of a polynucleotide of interest or a polypeptide of interest, e.g., human TET1 mRNA or TET1 protein, or the level of methylation in a predetermined genomic region of the TET1 gene, present in a sample. Such quantity may be expressed in the absolute terms, i.e., the total quantity of the polynucleotide or polypeptide in the sample, or in the relative terms, i.e., the concentration of the polynucleotide or polypeptide in the sample.

The term “treat” or “treating,” as used in this application, describes to an act that leads to the elimination, reduction, alleviation, reversal, or prevention or delay of onset or recurrence of any symptom of a relevant condition. In other words, “treating” a condition encompasses both therapeutic and prophylactic intervention against the condition.

The term “effective amount” as used herein refers to an amount of a given substance that is sufficient in quantity to produce a desired effect. For example, an effective amount of an polynucleotide encoding TET1 catalytic domain is the amount of said polynucleotide to achieve an increased level of TET1 protein biological activity, such that the symptoms of cancer are reduced, reversed, eliminated, prevented, or delayed of the onset in a patient who has been given the polynucleotide for therapeutic purposes. An amount adequate to accomplish this is defined as the “therapeutically effective dose.” The dosing range varies with the nature of the therapeutic agent being administered and other factors such as the route of administration and the severity of a patient's condition.

The term “subject” or “subject in need of treatment,” as used herein, includes individuals who seek medical attention due to risk of, or actual suffering from, cancer. Subjects also include individuals currently undergoing therapy that seek manipulation of the therapeutic regimen. Subjects or individuals in need of treatment include those that demonstrate symptoms of cancer or are at risk of suffering from cancer or its symptoms. For example, a subject in need of treatment includes individuals with a genetic predisposition or family history for cancer, those that have suffered relevant symptoms in the past, those that have been exposed to a triggering substance or event, as well as those suffering from chronic or acute symptoms of the condition. A “subject in need of treatment” may be at any age of life.

“Inhibitors,” “activators,” and “modulators” of TET1 protein are used to refer to inhibitory, activating, or modulating molecules, respectively, identified using in vitro and in vivo assays for TET1 protein binding or signaling, e.g., ligands, agonists, antagonists, and their homologs and mimetics. The term “modulator” includes inhibitors and activators. Inhibitors are agents that, e.g., partially or totally block carbohydrate binding, decrease, prevent, delay activation, inactivate, desensitize, or down regulate the activity of TET1 protein. In some cases, the inhibitor directly or indirectly binds to TET1 protein, such as a neutralizing antibody. Inhibitors, as used herein, are synonymous with inactivators and antagonists. Activators are agents that, e.g., stimulate, increase, facilitate, enhance activation, sensitize or up regulate the activity of TET1 protein. One example of TET1 activator is the catalytic domain of the TET1 protein (e.g., a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:6). Modulators include TET1 protein ligands or binding partners, including modifications of naturally-occurring ligands and synthetically-designed ligands, antibodies and antibody fragments, antagonists, agonists, small molecules including carbohydrate-containing molecules, siRNAs, RNA aptamers, and the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

I. Introduction

The present inventors discovered for the first time that expression of TET1, both at the mRNA and protein levels, is suppressed in multiple types of cancer cells (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, esophageal squamous carcinoma, cervical cancer, renal cancer and lymphomas) due to hypermethylation in TET1 genomic sequence. This suppressed expression of TET1 protein is due to increased or higher than normal level of methylation in the TET1 promoter region, which leads to decreased transcription of TET1 mRNA. This discovery provides important means for detecting, monitoring, and treating a variety of cancers. Generally, a lower than normal TET1 mRNA/protein level seen in a test subject, who may or may not exhibit any signs of tumor or cancer, indicates a high likelihood that the subject already has or will later develop cancer, especially in the corresponding tissue/organ. Similarly, a higher than normal level of methylation in the TET1 promoter sequence, indicates a high likelihood that the subject already has or will later develop cancer, especially in the corresponding tissue/organ type (e.g., a higher risk of nasopharyngeal cancer is determined in a patient when higher level of TET1 methylation is detected in the patient's nasopharyngeal tissue sample).

II. General Methodology

Practicing this invention utilizes routine techniques in the field of molecular biology. Basic texts disclosing the general methods of use in this invention include Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual (3rd ed. 2001); Kriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression: A Laboratory Manual (1990); and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al., eds., 1994)).

For nucleic acids, sizes are given in either kilobases (kb) or base pairs (bp). These are estimates derived from agarose or acrylamide gel electrophoresis, from sequenced nucleic acids, or from published DNA sequences. For proteins, sizes are given in kilodaltons (kDa) or amino acid residue numbers. Protein sizes are estimated from gel electrophoresis, from sequenced proteins, from derived amino acid sequences, or from published protein sequences.

Oligonucleotides that are not commercially available can be chemically synthesized, e.g., according to the solid phase phosphoramidite triester method first described by Beaucage and Caruthers, Tetrahedron Lett. 22:1859-1862 (1981), using an automated synthesizer, as described in Van Devanter et. al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:6159-6168 (1984). Purification of oligonucleotides is performed using any art-recognized strategy, e.g., native acrylamide gel electrophoresis or anion-exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) as described in Pearson and Reanier, J. Chrom. 255: 137-149 (1983).

The sequence of interest used in this invention, e.g., the polynucleotide sequence of the human TET1 gene, and synthetic oligonucleotides (e.g., primers) can be verified using, e.g., the chain termination method for sequencing double-stranded templates of Wallace et al., Gene 16:21-26 (1981).

III. Acquisition of Tissue Samples and Analysis of TET1 mRNA or DNA

The present invention relates to measuring the amount of TET1 mRNA or analyzing the methylation pattern of TET1 genomic DNA found in a person's tissue sample as a means to detect the presence, to assess the risk of developing, and/or to monitor the progression or treatment efficacy of a variety of cancers, depending on the type of tissue sample analyzed. Thus, the first steps of practicing this invention are to obtain a tissue sample from a test subject and extract mRNA or DNA from the sample, with the tissue sample generally corresponding to the organ/tissue for which cancer status is to be assessed (e.g., a nasopharyngeal tissue sample is analyzed to assess for the presence or risk of nasopharyngeal cancer in an individual, or a blood sample is analyzed to assess for the presence of risk of cancers of the blood cells, such as leukemia or lymphoma).

A. Acquisition and Preparation of Tissue Samples

A tissue sample is obtained from a person to be tested or monitored for cancer using a method of the present invention. Collection of various types of tissue sample, e.g., epithelial tissue sample, from an individual is performed in accordance with the standard protocol hospitals or clinics generally follow, such as during an endoscopy. An appropriate amount of tissue sample is collected from a chosen organ or anatomic site and may be stored according to standard procedures prior to further preparation.

The analysis of TET1 mRNA or DNA found in a patient's tissue sample according to the present invention may be performed using routine methodologies. The methods for preparing tissue samples for nucleic acid extraction are well known among those of skill in the art. For example, a subject's mucosa tissue sample should be first treated to disrupt cellular membrane so as to release nucleic acids contained within the cells.

B. Extraction and Quantitation of RNA

There are numerous methods for extracting mRNA from a biological sample. The general methods of mRNA preparation (e.g., described by Sambrook and Russell, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual 3d ed., 2001) can be followed; various commercially available reagents or kits, such as Trizol reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), Oligotex Direct mRNA Kits (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.), RNeasy Mini Kits (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), and PolyATtract® Series 9600™ (Promega, Madison, Wis.), may also be used to obtain mRNA from a biological sample from a test subject. Combinations of more than one of these methods may also be used.

It is essential that all contaminating DNA be eliminated from the RNA preparations. Thus, careful handling of the samples, thorough treatment with DNase, and proper negative controls in the amplification and quantification steps should be used.

1. PCR-Based Quantitative Determination of mRNA Level

Once mRNA is extracted from a sample, the amount of human TET1 mRNA may be quantified. The preferred method for determining the mRNA level is an amplification-based method, e.g., by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), especially reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Prior to the amplification step, a DNA copy (cDNA) of the human TET1 mRNA must be synthesized. This is achieved by reverse transcription, which can be carried out as a separate step, or in a homogeneous reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a modification of the polymerase chain reaction for amplifying RNA. Methods suitable for PCR amplification of ribonucleic acids are described by Romero and Rotbart in Diagnostic Molecular Biology: Principles and Applications pp. 401-406; Persing et al., eds., Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minn., 1993; Egger et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:1442-1447, 1995; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,075,212.

The general methods of PCR are well known in the art and are thus not described in detail herein. For a review of PCR methods, protocols, and principles in designing primers, see, e.g., Innis, et al., PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Academic Press, Inc. N.Y., 1990. PCR reagents and protocols are also available from commercial vendors, such as Roche Molecular Systems.

PCR is most usually carried out as an automated process with a thermostable enzyme. In this process, the temperature of the reaction mixture is cycled through a denaturing region, a primer annealing region, and an extension reaction region automatically. Machines specifically adapted for this purpose are commercially available.

Although PCR amplification of the target mRNA is typically used in practicing the present invention. One of skill in the art will recognize, however, that amplification of an mRNA species in a tissue sample may be accomplished by any known method, such as ligase chain reaction (LCR), transcription-mediated amplification, and self-sustained sequence replication or nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), each of which provides sufficient amplification. More recently developed branched-DNA technology may also be used to quantitatively determining the amount of mRNA in a sample. For a review of branched-DNA signal amplification for direct quantitation of nucleic acid sequences in clinical samples, see Nolte, Adv. Clin. Chem. 33:201-235, 1998.

2. Other Quantitative Methods

The TET1 mRNA can also be detected using other standard techniques, well known to those of skill in the art. Although the detection step is typically preceded by an amplification step, amplification is not required in the methods of the invention. For instance, the mRNA may be identified by size fractionation (e.g., gel electrophoresis), whether or not proceeded by an amplification step. After running a sample in an agarose or polyacrylamide gel and labeling with ethidium bromide according to well-known techniques (see, e.g., Sambrook and Russell, supra), the presence of a band of the same size as the standard comparison is an indication of the presence of a target mRNA, the amount of which may then be compared to the control based on the intensity of the band. Alternatively, oligonucleotide probes specific to TET1 mRNA can be used to detect the presence of such mRNA species and indicate the amount of mRNA in comparison to the standard comparison, based on the intensity of signal imparted by the probe.

Sequence-specific probe hybridization is a well-known method of detecting a particular nucleic acid comprising other species of nucleic acids. Under sufficiently stringent hybridization conditions, the probes hybridize specifically only to substantially complementary sequences. The stringency of the hybridization conditions can be relaxed to tolerate varying amounts of sequence mismatch.

A number of hybridization formats well known in the art, including but not limited to, solution phase, solid phase, or mixed phase hybridization assays. The following articles provide an overview of the various hybridization assay formats: Singer et al., Biotechniques 4:230, 1986; Haase et al., Methods in Virology, pp. 189-226, 1984; Wilkinson, In situ Hybridization, Wilkinson ed., IRL Press, Oxford University Press, Oxford; and Hames and Higgins eds., Nucleic Acid Hybridization: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, 1987.

The hybridization complexes are detected according to well-known techniques. Nucleic acid probes capable of specifically hybridizing to a target nucleic acid, i.e., the mRNA or the amplified DNA, can be labeled by any one of several methods typically used to detect the presence of hybridized nucleic acids. One common method of detection is the use of autoradiography using probes labeled with ³H, ¹²⁵I, ³⁵S, ¹⁴C, or ³²P, or the like. The choice of radioactive isotope depends on research preferences due to ease of synthesis, stability, and half lives of the selected isotopes. Other labels include compounds (e.g., biotin and digoxigenin), which bind to antiligands or antibodies labeled with fluorophores, chemiluminescent agents, and enzymes. Alternatively, probes can be conjugated directly with labels such as fluorophores, chemiluminescent agents or enzymes. The choice of label depends on sensitivity required, ease of conjugation with the probe, stability requirements, and available instrumentation.

The probes and primers necessary for practicing the present invention can be synthesized and labeled using well known techniques. Oligonucleotides used as probes and primers may be chemically synthesized according to the solid phase phosphoramidite triester method first described by Beaucage and Caruthers, Tetrahedron Letts., 22:1859-1862, 1981, using an automated synthesizer, as described in Needham-VanDevanter et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 12:6159-6168, 1984. Purification of oligonucleotides is by either native acrylamide gel electrophoresis or by anion-exchange HPLC as described in Pearson and Regnier, J. Chrom., 255:137-149, 1983.

C. Detection of Methylation in TET1 Genomic Sequence

Methylation status of a segment of TET1 genomic sequence containing one or more CpG (cytosine-guanine dinucleotide) pairs is investigated to provide indication as to whether a test subject is suffering from cancer, whether the subject is at risk of developing cancer, or whether the subject's cancer is worsening or improving/cancer risk is increasing or decreasing.

Typically a segment of the TET1 genomic sequence that includes the 5′ untranslated region (such as the promoter region) and includes one or more CpG nucleotide pairs is analyzed for methylation pattern. For example, SEQ ID NO:1 or a portion thereof (e.g., SEQ ID NO:2) can be used to determine how many of the CpG pairs within the sequence are methylated and how many are not methylated. The sequence being analyzed should be long enough to contain at least 1 CpG dinucleotide pair and detection of methylation at this CpG site is typically adequate indication of the presence of cancer cells. The length of the sequence being analyzed is usually at least 15 or 20 contiguous nucleotides, and may be longer with at least 25, 30, 50, 75, 100, 150, 170, 180, or up to 200 contiguous nucleotides. At least one, typically 2 or more, often 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 25, 30, 50 or more, CpG nucleotide pairs are present within the sequence. In the cases of multiple (2 or more) CpG sites are analyzed for methylation status (which may be 100% methylated or at least 50% methylated), when at least 50% of the CpG pairs within the analyzed genomic sequence are shown to be methylated, subject being tested is deemed to have cancer or have an elevated risk of developing cancer. As an example, SEQ ID NO:1 (+151 to +534 in relation to the transcription start site) and SEQ ID NO:2 (+221 to +393 in relation to the transcription start site, a portion of SEQ ID NO:1) are TET1 genomic sequence segments that can be chosen as target sequences for the analysis. Some or majority of the CpG pairs in this region are found to be methylated in established cancer cell lines and samples taken from cancerous tissue, whereas non-cancerous cells showed very few, if any at all, methylated CpG sites (see, e.g., FIG. 2). For example, the presence of cancer or an increased risk for later developing cancer is established when at least 90% (or at least 36 CpG sites) of the 39 CpG sites within the region are found to be at least 50% methylated or when at least 50% (or at least 20 CpG sites) of the 39 CpG sites are found to be 100% methylated. For the purpose of determining the methylation pattern of a TET1 genomic sequence, bisulfite treatment followed by DNA sequencing is particularly useful, since bisulfite converts an unmethylated cytosine (C) to a uracil (U) while leaving methylated cytosines unchanged, allowing immediate identification through a DNA sequencing process. Optionally, an amplification process such as PCR is included after the bisulfite conversion and before the DNA sequencing.

1. DNA Extraction and Treatment

Methods for extracting DNA from a biological sample are well known and routinely practiced in the art of molecular biology, see, e.g., Sambrook and Russell, supra. RNA contamination should be eliminated to avoid interference with DNA analysis. The DNA is then treated with a reagent capable of modifying DNA in a methylation differential manner, i.e., different and distinguishable chemical structures will result from a methylated cytosine (C) residue and an unmethylated C residue following the treatment. Typically, such a reagent reacts with the unmethylated C residue(s) in a DNA molecule and converts each unmethylated C residue to a uracil (U) residue, whereas the methylated C residues remain unchanged. This unmethylated C→U conversion allows detection and comparison of methylation status based on changes in the primary sequence of the nucleic acid. An exemplary reagent suitable for this purpose is bisulfite, such as sodium bisulfite. Methods for using bisulfite for chemical modification of DNA are well known in the art (see, e.g., Herman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:9821-9826, 1996).

As a skilled artisan will recognize, any other reagents that are unnamed here but have the same property of chemically (or through any other mechanism) modifying methylated and unmethylated DNA differentially can be used for practicing the present invention. methods for detecting DNA methylation include, for example, methylation-specific PCR (MSP), methylation-sensitive single nucleotide primer extension (Ms-SnuPE), high resolution melting (HRM) analysis, bisulifte sequencing, pyrosequencing, methylation-specific melting curve analysis (MS-MCA), methylation-specific denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (MS-DHPLC), methylation-specific microarray (MSO). These assays can be either PCR analysis, quantitative analysis with fluorescence labelling or Southern blot analysis.

2. Optional Amplification and Sequence Analysis

Following the modification of DNA in a methylation-differential manner, the treated DNA is then subjected to sequence-based analysis, such that the methylation status of the TET1 genomic sequence may be determined. An amplification reaction is optional prior to the sequence analysis after methylation specific modification. A variety of polynucleotide amplification methods are well established and frequently used in research. For instance, the general methods of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for polynucleotide sequence amplification are well known in the art and are thus not described in detail herein. For a review of PCR methods, protocols, and principles in designing primers, see, e.g., Innis, et al., PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Academic Press, Inc. N.Y., 1990. PCR reagents and protocols are also available from commercial vendors, such as Roche Molecular Systems.

Although PCR amplification is typically used in practicing the present invention, one of skill in the art will recognize that amplification of the relevant genomic sequence may be accomplished by any known method, such as the ligase chain reaction (LCR), transcription-mediated amplification, and self-sustained sequence replication or nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), each of which provides sufficient amplification.

Techniques for polynucleotide sequence determination are also well established and widely practiced in the relevant research field. For instance, the basic principles and general techniques for polynucleotide sequencing are described in various research reports and treatises on molecular biology and recombinant genetics, such as Wallace et al., supra; Sambrook and Russell, supra, and Ausubel et al., supra. DNA sequencing methods routinely practiced in research laboratories, either manual or automated, can be used for practicing the present invention. Additional means suitable for detecting changes (e.g., C→U) in a polynucleotide sequence for practicing the methods of the present invention include but are not limited to mass spectrometry, primer extension, polynucleotide hybridization, real-time PCR, melting curve analysis, high resolution melting analysis, heteroduplex analysis, pyrosequencing, and electrophoresis.

IV. Establishing a Standard Control

In order to establish a standard control for practicing the method of this invention, a group of healthy persons free of any tumor especially any form of cancer as conventionally defined is first selected. These individuals are within the appropriate parameters, if applicable, for the purpose of screening for and/or monitoring cancer using the methods of the present invention. Optionally, the individuals are of same gender, similar age, or similar ethnic background.

The healthy status of the selected individuals is confirmed by well established, routinely employed methods including but not limited to general physical examination of the individuals and general review of their medical history.

Furthermore, the selected group of healthy individuals must be of a reasonable size, such that the average amount/concentration of human TET1 mRNA or TET1 protein or average level of TET1 methylation in the tissue sample obtained from the group can be reasonably regarded as representative of the normal or average level among the general population of healthy people. Preferably, the selected group comprises at least 10 human subjects.

Once an average value for the TET1 mRNA or protein or average level of TET1 methylation (e.g., a certain number of methylated CpG islands within a pre-determined segment of TET1 genomic sequence) is established based on the individual values found in each subject of the selected healthy control group, this average or median or representative value or profile is considered a standard control. A standard deviation is also determined during the same process. In some cases, separate standard controls may be established for separately defined groups having distinct characteristics such as age, gender, or ethnic background.

V. Treatment and Prevention of Cancer

By illustrating the correlation of suppressed expression of TET1 protein and cancer, the present invention further provides a means for treating patients suffering from cancer: by way of increasing TET1 protein expression or biological activity, for example, by overexpression of TET1 protein's catalytic domain. As used herein, treatment of cancer encompasses reducing, reversing, lessening, or eliminating one or more of the symptoms of cancer, as well as preventing or delaying the onset of one or more of the relevant symptoms.

Upon detecting suppressed expression of TET1 at mRNA/protein level cue to increased methylation level of TET1, especially at the promoter/exon 1 region (e.g., SEQ ID NO:1 or 2), one may establish the presence of cancer in a patient or an increased risk of later developing the disease in the patient. As a result of this determination, the patient may be subject to subsequent therapies or preventive/monitoring measures, especially those fitting certain profiles, such as those with a family history of cancer, such that the symptoms of cancer may be prevented, eliminated, ameliorated, reduced in severity and/or frequency, or delayed in their onset. For example, a physician may prescribe both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments such as lifestyle modification (e.g., reduce body weight by 5% or more, assume a healthier life style including following a high fibre diet and maintaining a higher level of physical activities such as walking for at least 150 minutes weekly, and undergo routine screening/examination such as regular colonoscopy every 5 years). In some cases, when the presence of cancer is confirmed by way of other diagnostic means (e.g., biopsy of the relevant tissue), aggressive treatment may be used such as surgical intervention as well as radio- and/or chemo-therapy.

VI. Kits and Devices

The invention provides compositions and kits for practicing the methods described herein to assess the level of methylation in TET1 genomic DNA (e.g., in the segment of genomic sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:1 or 2) in a subject, which can be used for various purposes such as detecting or diagnosing the presence of various forms of cancer, determining the risk of developing the cancer, and monitoring the progression of the cancer in a patient, including assessing the likelihood of mortality from the cancer.

Kits for carrying out assays for determining TET1 gene methylation level typically include an agent that can differentially modify methylated and unmethylated DNA (such as a bisulfite), a pair of oligonucleotide primers useful for specific hybridization with at least one segment of the TET1 coding sequence or its complementary sequence so as to allow amplification of a genomic sequence segment comprising at least 5 CpGs, e.g., SEQ ID NO:1 or 2 (the +151 to +534 segment or the +221 to +393 segment). Optionally, an oligonucleotide probe is included in the kit. This oligonulcoetide probe is labeled with a detectable moiety and specifically hybridizes to the polynucleotide sequence corresponding to the methylated version of the genomic sequence or the unmethylated version following treatment by the agent that differentially modifies methylated and unmethylated DNA. In some cases, the kits may include at least two or possibly more different oligonucleotide probes that each specifically hybridizes to a methylated or unmethylated version of TET1 genomic sequence after treatment by the agent differentially modifying methylated and unmethylated DNA, particularly after amplification such as by PCR. In addition, the kits of this invention may provide instruction manuals to guide users in analyzing test samples and assessing the presence, risk, or state of cancer in a test subject.

In a further aspect, the present invention can also be embodied in a device or a system comprising one or more such devices, which is capable of carrying out all or some of the method steps described herein. For instance, in some cases, the device or system performs the following steps upon receiving a tissue sample, e.g., a mucosa tissue sample or blood sample taken from a subject being tested for detecting cancer or a blood malignancy, assessing the risk of developing a cancer of epithelium or blood in origin, or monitored for progression of the condition: (a) determining in sample the level of TET1 genomic sequence methylation (which may be measured by the number of CpGs in a pre-determined genomic region, e.g., SEQ ID NO:1 or 2, that are at least 50% methylated or at least 90% methylated; (b) comparing the level with a standard control value; and (c) providing an output indicating whether cancer is present in the subject or whether the subject is at risk of developing cancer, or whether there is a change, i.e., worsening or improvement, in the subject's cancer condition. In other cases, the device or system of the invention performs the task of steps (b) and (c), after step (a) has been performed and the amount or concentration from (a) has been entered into the device. Preferably, the device or system is partially or fully automated.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are provided by way of illustration only and not by way of limitation. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize a variety of non-critical parameters that could be changed or modified to yield essentially the same or similar results.

Introduction

DNA methylation at the C5 position of cytosine (5-methylcytosine, 5-mC), known as the “fifth base,” is a key epigenetic modification at CpG dinucleotides, playing critical roles in normal development and disease pathogenesis including tumorigenesis¹. Regional promoter CpG methylation together with genome-wide hypomethylation, as a fundamental epigenetic hallmark of cancers, lead to the silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and activation of oncogenes, contributing to cancer initiation and progression. Recently, various whole-genome sequencing studies of virtually all human cancers also demonstrate that the most commonly mutated genes are epigenetic modifiers including CpG methylation machinery components across diverse cancers²⁻⁵, highlighting the direct and crucial involvement of epigenetic programming dysregulation in tumorigenesis.

DNA methylation is a reversible process, through either passive or active demethylation. Passive demethylation has been well-documented owing to reduction in activities or absence of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) during DNA replication. The newly identified 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in mammalian genomic DNA⁶, as an intermediate of active DNA demethylation, has been recognized as the “sixth base,” which provides us new insight into the regulation of CpG methylation dynamics via active demethylation. 5hmC is readily expressed in human normal tissues and embryonic stem cells, but becomes greatly decreased in multiple cancer tissues⁷⁻⁹. 5hmC modification is relatively stable, not just as a transient intermediate¹⁰, arising as a novel epigenetic hallmark of tumors¹¹.

The ten-eleven translocation (TET) family of DNA hydroxylases, including TET1, TET2, and TET3, mediates the initial conversion of 5mC to 5hmC and final DNA demethylation through sequential oxidation reactions, thus as key executers for establishing 5hmC pattern and maintaining a hypomethylated genome state^(12,13). TET1 was firstly identified as a fusion partner of MLL in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)⁶. Inactive mutations or deletions of TET2 with impaired catalytic activity were frequently detected in hematopoietic malignancies¹⁴, along with decreased 5hmC levels^(4,15,16), while no somatic TET1 or TET3 mutation was found in myeloid and lymphoid tumors. The biological functions of TET family members or 5hmC on the reprogramming and development of embryotic stem cells have been extensively studied¹⁷⁻²¹. Recent reports also demonstrate that TET gene expression are reduced in some solid tumors, associated with 5hmC depletion and gene downregulation, thus playing critical functional roles in tumor initiation and metastasis²²⁻²⁶. Some mechanisms have been proposed to mediate TET disruption in cancers, including post-transcriptional regulation by miR-22²⁷, post-translational modification by cellular proteolytic system²⁸, and nuclear exclusion of TET proteins^(29,30). However, a systematic study of the expression and transcriptional regulation of TET members in most human cancers is still needed.

Here, the present inventors have studied the expression and transcriptional regulation of TET family genes in a large collection of human normal and tumor samples. They examined the epigenetic and genetic alterations of TET1 through analyzing cancer methylomes previously established by the inventors³¹ and also online genomics database of common tumors. Frequent promoter methylation of TET1 was discovered in a large set of tumor cell lines and primary tumors, confirming its tumor suppressive functions and demethylation activity in tumor cells.

Results and Discussion

Epigenomic Identification of TET1 as a Methylated Target in Multiple Cancers

During the analysis of whole-genome CpG methylation profiles (methylomes) of multiple tumor cell lines and primary tumors³¹, the promoter of one of the CpG demethylases, TET1, turned out to be a target in multiple methylomes (FIG. 1A). Bioinformatics analysis of the methylome data showed significant positive enrichment of CpG methylation (Cut off=2) at the TET1 promoter and exon 1 region in multiple tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) xenografts (C15, C18) and primary tumor (OCT83), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines (KYSE140, KYSE510), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines (HuH7, HepG2) and primary tumor (418T), as well as nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) cell lines (SNK6, NK-YS) and primary tumor (NK1) (FIG. 1A). The TET1 promoter and exon 1 region contain a typical CpG island (FIG. 2A), indicating that CpG methylation most likely regulates its expression in human cells.

The expression and methylation profiles of TET1 was thus further examined in multiple cancers. Results showed that, although all three TET genes (TET1, -2, -3) were ubiquitously expressed in a series of human normal adult and fetal tissues (FIG. 1B), only TET1 neither TET2 nor TET3, was frequently downregulated or totally silenced in a variety of tumor cell lines including multiple carcinomas (nasopharyngeal, esophageal, lung, gastric, colon, breast, cervical, renal) and lymphomas (Hodgkin, non-Hodgkin and NKTCL), while TET1 is readily expressed in all immortalized normal epithelial cell lines of different tissue origins (FIG. 2).

Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) primers for TET1 was tested for not amplifying any not-bisulfited DNA, confirming the detection specificity of TET1 methylation in our study (FIG. 2B). Then by MSP, we detected TET1 promoter methylation in virtually all downregulated cell lines of nasopharyngeal, esophageal, lung, gastric, colon, breast, cervical and renal carcinomas, as well as Hodgkin (HL), non-Hodgkin (NHL) and NKTCL lymphomas, but not in immortalized normal epithelial cell lines (FIG. 2C, D; Table 1). Moreover, TET1 downregulation and methylation were infrequently detected in hepatocellular (HCC) and prostate cancer cell lines but not in the bladder and melanoma cell lines examined (FIG. 8B).

The detailed methylation profile of TET1 promoter was further studied by bisulfate genomic sequencing (BGS). A 384-bp region (+151-bp to +534-bp) spanning TET1 promoter and exon 1, containing 39 CpG sites was analyzed (FIG. 2A). BGS results showed heavily methylated alleles in representative cell lines, including NPC, ESCC, lung, gastric, colon, breast, cervical and renal carcinomas, as well as lymphomas, while barely present in immortalized normal cell lines of nasopharyngeal (NP69, NP460), esophageal (Het-1A), colon (CCD841con) and kidney (HEK293) epithelial cells, consistent with the MSP data (FIG. 3A). Thus, TET1 silencing by promoter CpG methylation is a common event in multiple tumors.

It was further investigated whether TET1 promoter methylation directly mediates its repression. DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-dC (Aza) was used or in combination with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor to treat tumor cell lines of nasopharyngeal, esophageal, colon, breast and renal, all with methylated and downregulated TET1. After the treatment, restoration of TET1 expression was observed, along with increased unmethylated promoter alleles as detected by MSP (FIG. 3B). Demethylation of the TET1 promoter was confirmed by BGS analysis, which shows dramatically demethylated CpG sites (FIG. 3C), indicating that CpG methylation directly mediates TET1 silencing in tumor cells.

In this study, epigenetic silencing was demonstrated as a common regulatory mechanism for TET1 inactivation at the transcriptional level in multiple human cancers. Additional alternative mechanisms regulating expression and activities of TET family members have been reported³². For examples, high mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2), a chromatin remodeling factor, suppresses TET1 expression by directly binding to its promoter or indirectly through other components in breast cancer cells²⁴. Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) mediates Tet1 downregulation through H3K27me3 histone mark deposition³³. PARP activity increases TET1 expression levels through maintaining a permissive chromatin state³⁴. miR-22 suppresses TET expression levels in breast cancer cells through directly targeting the 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) of TET mRNAs²⁷. As direct substrates of calpains (calcium-activated cysteine proteases), TET proteins also undergo calpain-mediated degradation²⁸. Nuclear exclusion of TET1 and TET2 is significantly correlated with loss of 5mC in glioma and colon cancer^(29,30). Thus, TET expression could be regulated at multiple levels of transcription, post-transcription or post-translation in different cell context, although TET1 silencing through promoter CpG methylation appears to be more common and predominant in multiple tumors.

Frequent Silencing of TET1 by Promoter Methylation in Primary Tumors

As promoter CpG methylation in tumor cell lines might be derived from cell culture-induced secondary effect, TET1 methylation and expression was further examined in primary tumor samples. Frequent TET1 methylation was detected in multiple tumors, including 55% (31/56) of NPC, 55% (30/55) of gastric, 27% (3/11) of colon, 42% (5/12) of hepatocellular, 36% (18/50) of breast and 28% (13/46) of renal tumor samples, as well as 78% of primary Hodgkin and 83% (10/12) of NKTCL lymphoma samples (FIG. 4A, FIG. 9, Table 1), but infrequently in primary ESCC, lung, prostate tumors and other non-Hodgkin lymphomas (FIG. 9, Table 1). TET1 methylation could even be detected in 50% of 16 nose swab samples from suspected NPC patients (FIG. 4B). In contrast, TET1 methylation was not detected in a panel of human normal adult and fetal tissues except for being barely seen in normal small intestine and colon (FIG. 4C). Further detailed BGS methylation analysis confirmed the presence of methylated promoter alleles in primary tumors but not normal tissues (FIG. 4D). TET1 downregulation was also detected in paired primary tumors of several tissue types (lung, stomach, colon, rectum, breast and kidney) and primary NPC tumors (FIG. 4E). Furthermore, through online GENT and Oncomine database analysis, we found that TET1 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in multiple solid tumors and leukemia, compared with their corresponding normal tissues (FIG. 10). These results clearly demonstrate that TET1 silencing by promoter CpG methylation is a common event for multiple tumors of epithelial and lymphoid origins.

Several studies have shown that TET genes are readily expressed in normal esophageal, gastric, colon, liver and breast tissues by PCR or immunohistochemistry^(22,23,25), but decreased in tumor cell lines and primary tumors to varied grades, with TET1 as the most significantly downregulated member. A previous report through analyzing Cancer Genome Atlas TCGA database found that TET1 is downregulated in primary tumors of colorectal, breast and lung since early stage, and associated with patient poor survival²³. TET1 is significantly decreased at mRNA and protein levels in gastric primary tumors compared to surgical margins and associated with tumor localization and TNM grades³⁵. DNA methylation and bivalent histone marks at the CpG island 3′-shore mediate TET1 silencing in gastric cancer³⁶. Reduced TET1 expression or 5hmC level in breast cancer tissues could be biomarkers for breast cancer progression³⁷. TET1 methylation in colorectal cancer tissues, not TET2 and TET3³⁸, has been found as an early event in CRC tumorigenesis, thus as a valuable biomarker for metastasis prediction³⁹. The results here are consistent with these previous studies. TET1 methylation appears to be tumor-specific and thus could serve as a potential epigenetic biomarker for cancer detection.

Genetic Alteration of TET1 is Uncommon in Human Cancers

As alterations of cancer gene are through either genetic or epigenetic mechanisms, possible genetic alterations of TET1 were further investigated in cancers. Somatically acquired mutations of TET1 in human cancers were analyzed using the COSMIC database. Only <1% of tumor cases (most cases with ≤0.25%) had detectable TET1 mutations (FIG. 5A), consisting of 80% of missense mutations, 10% of nonsense and 10% of synonymous mutations (FIG. 5B), with most of the mutations located in coding regions (FIG. 5C). Hemizygous deletion of TET1 was also detected in some tumor cell lines with TET1 silencing and methylation, but not in TET1-expresssing cells (FIG. 11A, B). Consistently, TET1 gene deletion was also observed in solid tumors by analyzing DNA copy number alterations using the Oncomine database (FIG. 11C). These results demonstrate that TET1 mutation is uncommon in human cancers, although TET1 deletion is indeed present in some tumor samples.

TET1 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor Which Requires its Catalytic Activity

The TEM catalytic domain (CD) (containing the Cys-rich and DSBH regions) remains intact hydroxylase activity in embryonic development and reprogramming^(6,13), displaying ability to induce 5hmC formation, demethylation and gene transcription in differentiated cells³³. It was tested whether the catalytic activity of TET1 was required for its possible tumor suppression functions, using TET1-CD and its enzymatic dead mutant (TET1-CD-mut) (FIG. 6A). Ectopic expression of TET1-CD significantly suppressed tumor cell clonogenicity (to ˜40-50% of control cells) in colony formation assays of NPC, ESCC, gastric, colon and breast tumor cells, while the TET1-CD-mut lost this ability (FIG. 6B). TUNEL assay showed significantly increased numbers of apoptotic cells in TET1-CD expressing-tumor cells, compared with vector or TET1-CD-mut controls (FIG. 6C). These results demonstrate that TET1 possesses bona fide tumor suppressive functions in tumor cells of multiple types.

Consistent with the above results, several recent studies have shown similar tumor-suppressive functions of TET1 in cancer cells. TET1 inhibits proliferation and invasion of colon²³, breast^(24,25), renal⁴⁰ and prostate²⁵ cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. TET1 deficiency promotes B-lineage differentiation, leading eventually to B-cell lymphoma⁴¹. TET1 suppression as a key event of the RAS programming is required for KRAS-induced cellular transformation²⁶. Thus, loss of function of TET1 is a common event during multiple tumorigenesis of solid tumors or hematologic malignancies.

TET1 Induces TSG Promoter Demethylation in Tumor Cells

Several studies identified TET1 target genes in mouse ES cells and some tumor cells, using RNA- or ChIP-sequencing or hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (hMeDIP-seq)^(12,24,26,27,33,42-45). A series of TET1-targeted genes including TSGs have been identified, such as TIMP²⁵, HOXA9 and HOXA7²⁴, and Wnt signaling antagonists DKK3 and DKK4²³. To further explore the molecular mechanism of TET1 in tumor suppression, some known and potential target TSGs were examined to assess the demethylase activity of TET1 in tumor cells. Mild upregulation of HOXA9, HOXA5, PCDH7, TCF4, MEIS1, SLIT2 and ZNF382 at mRNA levels was observed in TET1-CD-expressing carcinoma cells by semi-quantitative RT-PCR (FIG. 6D) and qRT-PCR (FIG. 6E). Meanwhile, decreased methylated alleles of HOXA9, SLIT2 and ZNF382 promoters were also detected in TET1-CD-expressing tumor cells, but not in TET1-CD-mut-expressing cells, with increased unmethylated promoter alleles observed concurrently, suggesting that TET1 indeed functions as a CpG demethylase to demethylase and reactivate multiple TSGs in tumor cells (FIG. 6F). In addition to HOXA9, it was also found that TSGs like SLIT2, ZNF382, PCDH7, TCF4, MEIS1 and HOXA5 as TET1 target genes which could be demethylated and reactivated by TET1 in tumor cells. Other mechanisms besides demethylase activity could also be involved in regulating target genes by TET1, such as recruiting PRC2⁴², PRDM14⁴³, Sin3A co-repressor complex⁴⁴ and MBD3/NURD complex⁴⁵. Further studies on TET1-targeted gene regulation in human cancers would help better understand its role in cancer development.

The discovery of TET enzymes, in addition to DNMTs, establishes a fundamental etiologic role of CpG methylation in human cancers. In response to environment carcinogens⁴⁶⁻⁴⁸ like chemical carcinogens and tumor viruses, DNMT activities and expression levels are induced and increased in cells, displaying stronger maintenance and de novo methylation capacity, leading to specific gene CpG island hypermethylation. The epigenetic alterations, especially promoter CpG methylation of TSGs, facilitate genome instability, disrupted cellular signaling and even further genetic mutations, thus are crucial to tumor initiation and progression^(1,49). Remarkably, promoter CpG methylation-mediated silencing of the CpG demethylase TET1 in human cancers, which in turn, further leads to increased 5mC levels in tumor cells, thus forming a DNA methylation feedback loop mediated by DNMT/CpG methylation and TET1 (FIG. 7).

In summary, this study comprehensively examined TET1 expression and methylation status in multiple tumors, and demonstrated that promoter CpG methylation is a predominant mechanism for TET1 inactivation in human cancers. The tumor-specific methylation of TET1 could serve as a valuable, non-invasive epigenetic tumor biomarker. TET1 as a tumor suppressor and CpG demethylase in tumor cells requires its intact catalytic domain, which provides new insight into the epigenetic master role of TET1 in tumor pathogenesis. These findings provide the mechanistic elucidation of the importance of CpG methylation in human cancers.

Materials and Methods

Cell Lines and Tissue Samples

Human tumor cell lines of multiple tissue types were used⁵⁰⁻⁵⁵, including nasopharyngeal (NPC), esophageal squamous cell (ESCC), lung, gastric, colorectal (CRC), hepatocellular (HCC), breast, cervical, renal (RCC), bladder and prostate carcinomas, melanoma, as well as non-Hodgkin (NHL), Hodgkin (HL) and nasal natural killer (NK)/T-cell (NKTCL) lymphomas. Immortalized, non-transformed normal epithelial cell lines were used as “normal” controls. Cell lines were obtained from either American Type Culture Collection or collaborators. When needed, cell lines were treated with 10 μmol/L 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (Aza) (Sigma-aldrich, St Louis, Mo.) for 3 days, without or with further treatment with 100 nmol/trichostatin A (TSA) (Cayman Chemical Co., Ann Arbor, Mich.) for additional ˜16 h as previously^(50,53). Normal adult and fetal tissue RNA and DNA samples were purchased commercially (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.; Millipore-Chemicon, Billerica, Mass.). DNA samples of primary carcinomas, nose swab from suspected NPC patients, as well as surgical margin normal tissues, have been described previously^(31,51,52).

Establishment of Tumor Methylation by MeDIP-Chip

Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) coupled with promoter microarray hybridization was performed as previously³¹. Briefly, immunoprecipitation of methylated DNA was performed using monoclonal antibody against 5-methylcytidine (33D3, Diagenode, Seraing, Belgium) labeled with magnetic beads. Total input and immunoprecipitated DNA were labeled with Cy3 or Cy5, respectively, and hybridized to NimbleGen™ HG18 Meth (385K CGI plus) promoter arrays or HG19 (2.1M) Deluxe Promoter arrays (Array Star, Inc., MD). Normal epithelial cell lines and normal tissues were used as controls. Bioinformatics analysis of methylome data was performed as previously³¹.

Semi-Quantitative RT-PCR and Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR)

Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR were performed as described before^(50,53), with GAPDH as a control for all the samples shown in previous publications^(31,51,52). qRT-PCR was carried out according to the manufacturer's protocol (HT7900 system; applied Biosystems), with SYBR Green master mix (applied Biosystems) used. Primers used are listed in Table 2.

Bisulfite Treatment of DNA Samples and Promoter Methylation Analysis

CpG island (CGI) analysis for TET1 promoter and exon 1 was performed using CpG island Searcher (http//ccnt.hsc.usc.edu/cpgislands2). Bisulfite modification of genomic DNA was carried out as described previously^(56,57). For MSP analysis, approximately 50 ng of bisulfited DNA for each sample was amplified with methylation- or unmethylation-specific primer set, according to previously reported MSP protocol⁵⁸. Bisulfite-treated DNA was also amplified using a set of BGS primers, then cloned into pCR4-TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.), with 8-10 clones randomly picked and sequenced. MSP and BGS primers used are shown in Table 2. Unmethylated gene alleles for these treated samples have been detected in our previous publications, which shows the good quality of these DNA samples^(31,51,52).

Genetic Deletion Analysis of TET1

Homozygous deletion of TET1 coding exons 2 and 4 was examined using multiplex genomic DNA PCR, as previously described⁵¹. Primer sequences are shown in Table 2.

Colony Formation Assay of Tumor Cells

Human TET1 catalytic domain (TET1-CD) cDNA and its catalytic domain mutant (TET1-CD-mut) clones (Addgene, Cambridge, Mass.) were used as templates to generate TET1 constructs with an N-terminal Flag tag, and subcloned into pcDNA3.1 vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were cultured overnight in a 12-well plate and transfected with empty vector or TET1-CD, TET1-CD-mut-expressing plasmids using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Forty-eight hours later, transfectants were replated in triplicate and cultured for 10-15 days in complete medium containing G418. Surviving colonies were stained with crystal violet (0.5% w/v) after methanol fixation, with visible colonies (≥50 cells) counted.

TUNEL Assay

Cells cultured on coverslips were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde, and permeabilized with 0.1% triton X-100. TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining was performed using the In Situ Cell Death Detection Kit (Roche, Mannheim, Germany).

Statistical Analysis

Fisher's exact test and t-tests were performed. All reported p-values were two-sided, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

All patents, patent applications, and other publications, including GenBank Accession Numbers, cited in this application are incorporated by reference in the entirety for all purposes.

Informal sequence listing SEQ ID NO: 1 Human TET1 genomic sequence (+151 to +534) (+151-5′- TGCCTCTCCACTGTGGACCTTTGGGAACCGACTCCTCACCTCGGGGGCTCGGGCCTTGACTGTGCTGGGAGCCGGTA GGCGTCCTCCGCGACCCGCCCGCGCCCCTCGCGCCCGCCGGGGCCCCGGGCTCCAAAGTTGTGGGGACCGGCGCGAG TTGGAAAGTTTGCCCGAGGGCTGGTGCAGGCTTGGAGCTGGGGGCCGTGCGCTGCCCTGGGAATGTGACCCGGCCAG CGGTGAGTTGGGGCCGGGGCAGAGGGCAGGGGTGCGGGGAGCGAGGACTCCGACGCCGAGGCCCGAGGGGGGTCCGG GAGGCGGCGCTCGGCGCGGGCTGGATGTGGCCGGGGCTCTGCGTCCTTGGCTCTCCCGCTGCCTCAGGGGTGGGCT- +534) SEQ ID NO: 2 Human TET1 genomic sequence (+221 to +393) 5′- GCCGGTAGGCGTCCTCCGCGACCCGCCCGCGCCCCTCGCGCCCGCCGGGGCCCCGGGC TCCAAAGTTGTGGGGACCGGCGCGAGTTGGAAAGTTTGCCCGAGGGCTGGTGCAGGCTT GGAGCTGGGGGCCGTGCGCTGCCCTGGGAATGTGACCCGGCCAGCGGTGAGTTGGG-3′ SEQ ID NO: 3 Human TET1 mRNA (9601 nt)    1 agacactgct gctccggggg gctgacctgg cggggagtgg ccgcgcagtc tgctccggcg   61 ccgctttgtg cgcgcagccg ctggcccctc tactcccggg tctgcccccc gggacacccc  121 tctgcctcgc ccaagtcatg cagccctacc tgcctctcca ctgtggacct ttgggaaccg  181 actcctcacc tcgggggctc gggccttgac tgtgctggga gccggtaggc gtcctccgcg  241 acccgcccgc gcccctcgcg cccgccgggg ccccgggctc caaagttgtg gggaccggcg  301 cgagttggaa agtttgcccg agggctggtg caggcttgga gctgggggcc gtgcgctgcc  361 ctgggaatgt gacccggcca gcgaccaaaa ccttgtgtga ctgagctgaa gagcagtgca  421 tccagattct cctcagaagt gagactttcc aaaggaccaa tgactctgtt tcctgcgccc  481 tttcattttt tcctactctg tagctatgtc tcgatcccgc catgcaaggc cttccagatt  541 agtcaggaag gaagatgtaa acaaaaaaaa gaaaaacagc caactacgaa agacaaccaa  601 gggagccaac aaaaatgtgg catcagtcaa gactttaagc cctggaaaat taaagcaatt  661 aattcaagaa agagatgtta agaaaaaaac agaacctaaa ccacccgtgc cagtcagaag  721 ccttctgaca agagctggag cagcacgcat gaatttggat aggactgagg ttctttttca  781 gaacccagag tccttaacct gcaatgggtt tacaatggcg ctacgaagca cctctcttag  841 caggcgactc tcccaacccc cactggtcgt agccaaatcc aaaaaggttc cactttctaa  901 gggtttagaa aagcaacatg attgtgatta taagatactc cctgctttgg gagtaaagca  961 ctcagaaaat gattcggttc caatgcaaga cacccaagtc cttcctgata tagagactct 1021 aattggtgta caaaatccct ctttacttaa aggtaagagc caagagacaa ctcagttttg 1081 gtcccaaaga gttgaggatt ccaagatcaa tatccctacc cacagtggcc ctgcagctga 1141 gatccttcct gggccactgg aagggacacg ctgtggtgaa ggactattct ctgaagagac 1201 attgaatgat accagtggtt ccccaaaaat gtttgctcag gacacagtgt gtgctccttt 1261 tccccaaaga gcaaccccca aagttacctc tcaaggaaac cccagcattc agttagaaga 1321 gttgggttca cgagtagaat ctcttaagtt atctgattct tacctggatc ccattaaaag 1381 tgaacatgat tgctacccca cctccagtct taataaggtt atacctgact tgaaccttag 1441 aaactgcttg gctcttggtg ggtctacgtc tcctacctct gtaataaaat tcctcttggc 1501 aggctcaaaa caagcgaccc ttggtgctaa accagatcat caagaggcct tcgaagctac 1561 tgcaaatcaa caggaagttt ctgataccac ctctttccta ggacaggcct ttggtgctat 1621 cccacatcaa tgggaacttc ctggtgctga cccagttcat ggtgaggccc tgggtgagac 1681 cccagatcta ccagagattc ctggtgctat tccagtccaa ggagaggtct ttggtactat 1741 tttagaccaa caagaaactc ttggtatgag tgggagtgtt gtcccagact tgcctgtctt 1801 ccttcctgtt cctccaaatc caattgctac ctttaatgct ccttccaaat ggcctgagcc 1861 ccaaagcact gtctcatatg gacttgcagt ccagggtgct atacagattt tgcctttggg 1921 ctcaggacac actcctcaat catcatcaaa ctcagagaaa aattcattac ctccagtaat 1981 ggctataagc aatgtagaaa atgagaagca ggttcatata agcttcctgc cagctaacac 2041 tcaggggttc ccattagccc ctgagagagg actcttccat gcttcactgg gtatagccca 2101 actctctcag gctggtccta gcaaatcaga cagagggagc tcccaggtca gtgtaaccag 2161 cacagttcat gttgtcaaca ccacagtggt gactatgcca gtgccaatgg tcagtacctc 2221 ctcttcttcc tataccactt tgctaccgac tttggaaaag aagaaaagaa agcgatgtgg 2281 ggtctgtgaa ccctgccagc agaagaccaa ctgtggtgaa tgcacttact gcaagaacag 2341 aaagaacagc catcagatct gtaagaaaag aaaatgtgag gagctgaaaa agaaaccatc 2401 tgttgttgtg cctctggagg ttataaagga aaacaagagg ccccagaggg aaaagaagcc 2461 caaagtttta aaggcagatt ttgacaacaa accagtaaat ggccccaagt cagaatccat 2521 ggactacagt agatgtggtc atggggaaga acaaaaattg gaattgaacc cacatactgt 2581 tgaaaatgta actaaaaatg aagacagcat gacaggcatc gaggtggaga agtggacaca 2641 aaacaagaaa tcacagttaa ctgatcacgt gaaaggagat tttagtgcta atgtcccaga 2701 agctgaaaaa tcgaaaaact ctgaagttga caagaaacga accaaatctc caaaattgtt 2761 tgtacaaacc gtaagaaatg gcattaaaca tgtacactgt ttaccagctg aaacaaatgt 2821 ttcatttaaa aaattcaata ttgaagaatt cggcaagaca ttggaaaaca attcttataa 2881 attcctaaaa gacactgcaa accataaaaa cgctatgagc tctgttgcta ctgatatgag 2941 ttgtgatcat ctcaagggga gaagtaacgt tttagtattc cagcagcctg gctttaactg 3001 cagttccatt ccacattctt cacactccat cataaatcat catgctagta tacacaatga 3061 aggtgatcaa ccaaaaactc ctgagaatat accaagtaaa gaaccaaaag atggatctcc 3121 cgttcaacca agtctcttat cgttaatgaa agataggaga ttaacattgg agcaagtggt 3181 agccatagag gccctgactc aactctcaga agccccatca gagaattcct ccccatcaaa 3241 gtcagagaag gatgaggaat cagagcagag aacagccagt ttgcttaata gctgcaaagc 3301 tatcctctac actgtaagaa aagacctcca agacccaaac ttacagggag agccaccaaa 3361 acttaatcac tgtccatctt tggaaaaaca aagttcatgc aacacggtgg ttttcaatgg 3421 gcaaactact accctttcca actcacatat caactcagct actaaccaag catccacaaa 3481 gtcacatgaa tattcaaaag tcacaaattc attatctctt tttataccaa aatcaaattc 3541 atccaagatt gacaccaata aaagtattgc tcaagggata attactcttg acaattgttc 3601 caatgatttg catcagttgc caccaagaaa taatgaagtg gagtattgca accagttact 3661 ggacagcagc aaaaaattgg actcagatga tctatcatgt caggatgcaa cccataccca 3721 aattgaggaa gatgttgcaa cacagttgac acaacttgct tcgataatta agatcaatta 3781 tataaaacca gaggacaaaa aagttgaaag tacaccaaca agccttgtca catgtaatgt 3841 acagcaaaaa tacaatcagg agaagggcac aatacaacag aaaccacctt caagtgtaca 3901 caataatcat ggttcatcat taacaaaaca aaagaaccca acccagaaaa agacaaaatc 3961 caccccatca agagatcggc ggaaaaagaa gcccacagtt gtaagttatc aagaaaatga 4021 tcggcagaag tgggaaaagt tgtcctatat gtatggcaca atatgcgaca tttggatagc 4081 atcgaaattt caaaattttg ggcaattttg tccacatgat tttcctactg tatttgggaa 4141 aatttcttcc tcgaccaaaa tatggaaacc actggctcaa acgaggtcca ttatgcaacc 4201 caaaacagta tttccaccac tcactcagat aaaattacag agatatcctg aatcagcaga 4261 ggaaaaggtg aaggttgaac cattggattc actcagctta tttcatctta aaacggaatc 4321 caacgggaag gcattcactg ataaagctta taattctcag gtacagttaa cggtgaatgc 4381 caatcagaaa gcccatcctt tgacccagcc ctcctctcca cctaaccagt gtgctaacgt 4441 gatggcaggc gatgaccaaa tacggtttca gcaggttgtt aaggagcaac tcatgcatca 4501 gagactgcca acattgcctg gtatctctca tgaaacaccc ttaccggagt cagcactaac 4561 tctcaggaat gtaaatgtag tgtgttcagg tggaattaca gtggtttcta ccaaaagtga 4621 agaggaagtc tgttcatcca gttttggaac atcagaattt tccacagtgg acagtgcaca 4681 gaaaaatttt aatgattatg ccatgaactt ctttactaac cctacaaaaa acctagtgtc 4741 tataactaaa gattctgaac tgcccacctg cagctgtctt gatcgagtta tacaaaaaga 4801 caaaggccca tattatacac accttggggc aggaccaagt gttgctgctg tcagggaaat 4861 catggagaat aggtatggtc aaaaaggaaa cgcaataagg atagaaatag tagtgtacac 4921 cggtaaagaa gggaaaagct ctcatgggtg tccaattgct aagtgggttt taagaagaag 4981 cagtgatgaa gaaaaagttc tttgtttggt ccggcagcgt acaggccacc actgtccaac 5041 tgctgtgatg gtggtgctca tcatggtgtg ggatggcatc cctcttccaa tggccgaccg 5101 gctatacaca gagctcacag agaatctaaa gtcatacaat gggcacccta ccgacagaag 5161 atgcaccctc aatgaaaatc gtacctgtac atgtcaagga attgatccag agacttgtgg 5221 agcttcattc tcttttggct gttcatggag tatgtacttt aatggctgta agtttggtag 5281 aagcccaagc cccagaagat ttagaattga tccaagctct cccttacatg aaaaaaacct 5341 tgaagataac ttacagagtt tggctacacg attagctcca atttataagc agtatgctcc 5401 agtagcttac caaaatcagg tggaatatga aaatgttgcc cgagaatgtc ggcttggcag 5461 caaggaaggt cgtcccttct ctggggtcac tgcttgcctg gacttctgtg ctcatcccca 5521 cagggacatt cacaacatga ataatggaag cactgtggtt tgtaccttaa ctcgagaaga 5581 taaccgctct ttgggtgtta ttcctcaaga tgagcagctc catgtgctac ctctttataa 5641 gctttcagac acagatgagt ttggctccaa ggaaggaatg gaagccaaga tcaaatctgg 5701 ggccatcgag gtcctggcac cccgccgcaa aaaaagaacg tgtttcactc agcctgttcc 5761 ccgttctgga aagaagaggg ctgcgatgat gacagaggtt cttgcacata agataagggc 5821 agtggaaaag aaacctattc cccgaatcaa gcggaagaat aactcaacaa caacaaacaa 5881 cagtaagcct tcgtcactgc caaccttagg gagtaacact gagaccgtgc aacctgaagt 5941 aaaaagtgaa accgaacccc attttatctt aaaaagttca gacaacacta aaacttattc 6001 gctgatgcca tccgctcctc acccagtgaa agaggcatct ccaggcttct cctggtcccc 6061 gaagactgct tcagccacac cagctccact gaagaatgac gcaacagcct catgcgggtt 6121 ttcagaaaga agcagcactc cccactgtac gatgccttcg ggaagactca gtggtgccaa 6181 tgcagctgct gctgatggcc ctggcatttc acagcttggc gaagtggctc ctctccccac 6241 cctgtctgct cctgtgatgg agcccctcat taattctgag ccttccactg gtgtgactga 6301 gccgctaacg cctcatcagc caaaccacca gccctccttc ctcacctctc ctcaagacct 6361 tgcctcttct ccaatggaag aagatgagca gcattctgaa gcagatgagc ctccatcaga 6421 cgaaccccta tctgatgacc ccctgtcacc tgctgaggag aaattgcccc acattgatga 6481 gtattggtca gacagtgagc acatcttttt ggatgcaaat attggtgggg tggccatcgc 6541 acctgctcac ggctcggttt tgattgagtg tgcccggcga gagctgcacg ctaccactcc 6601 tgttgagcac cccaaccgta atcatccaac ccgcctctcc cttgtctttt accagcacaa 6661 aaacctaaat aagccccaac atggttttga actaaacaag attaagtttg aggctaaaga 6721 agctaagaat aagaaaatga aggcctcaga gcaaaaagac caggcagcta atgaaggtcc 6781 agaacagtcc tctgaagtaa atgaattgaa ccaaattcct tctcataaag cattaacatt 6841 aacccatgac aatgttgtca ccgtgtcccc ttatgctctc acacacgttg cggggcccta 6901 taaccattgg gtctgaaggc ttttctcccc ctcttaatgc ctttgctagt gcagtgtatt 6961 ttttcaaggt gctgttaaaa gaaagtcatg ttgtcgttta ctatcttcat ctcacccatt 7021 tcaagtctga ggtaaaaaaa taataatgat aacaaaacgg ggtgggtatt cttaactgtg 7081 actatatttt gacaattggt agaaggtgca cattttaagc aaaaataaaa gttttatagt 7141 tttaaataca taaagaaatg tttcagttag gcattaacct tgatagaatc actcagtttg 7201 gtgctttaaa ttaagtctgt ttactatgaa acaagagtca tttttagagg attttaacag 7261 gttcatgttc tatgatgtaa aatcaagaca cacagtgtta actctacaca gcttctggtg 7321 cttaaccaca tccacacagt taaaaataag ctgaattatt atttcatggt gccattgttc 7381 caacatcttc caatcattgc tagaaaattg gcatattcct ttgaaataaa cttatgaaat 7441 gttttctctc ttaaaatatt tctcctgtgt aaaataaatc attgttgtta gtaatggttg 7501 gaggctgttc ataaattgta aatatatatt ttaaaagcac tttctatttt taaaagtaac 7561 ttgaaataat atagtataag aatcctattg tctattgttt gtgcatattt gcatacaaga 7621 gaaatcattt atccttgctg tgtagagttc catcttgtta actgcagtat gtattctaat 7681 catgtatatg gtttgtgttc ttttactgtg tcctctcaca ttcaagtatt agcaacttgc 7741 agtatataaa atagttagat aatgagaagt tgttaattat ctctaaaatt ggaattagga 7801 agcatatcac caatactgat taacattctc tttggaacta ggtaagagtg gtctcttctt 7861 attgaacaac ctcaatttag tttcatccca cctttctcag tataatccat gagaggtgtt 7921 tccaaaagga gatgagggaa caggataggt ttcagaagag tcaaatgctt ctaatgtctc 7981 aaggtgataa aatacaaaaa ctaagtagac agatatttgt actgaagtct gatacagaat 8041 tagaaaaaaa aaattcttgt tgaaatattt tgaaaacaaa ttccctacta tcatcacatg 8101 cctccccaac cccaagtcaa aaacaagagg aatggtacta caaacatggc tttgtccatt 8161 aagagctaat tcatttgttt atcttagcat actagatttg ggaaaatgat aactcatctt 8221 ttctgataat tgcctatgtt ctaggtaaca ggaaaacagg cattaagttt attttagtct 8281 tcccattttc ttcctattac tttattgact cattttattg caaaacaaaa aggattaccc 8341 aaacaacatg tttcgaacaa ggagaatttt caatgaaata cttgattctg ttaaaatgca 8401 gaggtgctat aacattcaaa gtgtcagatt ccttgggagt atggaaaacc taatggtgct 8461 tctcccttgg aaatgccata ggaagcccac aaccgctaac acttacaatt ttggtgcaaa 8521 agcaaacagt tccagcaggc tctctaaaga aaaactcatt gtaacttatt aaaataatat 8581 ctggtgcaaa gtatctgttt tgagcttttg actaatccaa gtaaaggaat atgaagggat 8641 tgtaaaaaac aaaatgtcca ttgatagacc atcgtgtaca agtagatttc tgcttgttga 8701 atatgtaaaa tagggtaatt cattgacttg ttttagtatt ttgtgtgcct tagatttccg 8761 ttttaagaca tgtatatttt tgtgagccta aggtttctta tatacatata agtatataaa 8821 taagtgattg tttattgctt cagctgcttc aacaagatat ttactagtat tagactatca 8881 ggaatacacc cttgcgagat tatgttttag attttaggcc ttagctccca ctagaaatta 8941 tttcttcacc agatttaatg gataaagttt tatggctctt tatgcatcca ctcatctact 9001 cattcttcga gtctacactt attgaatgcc tgcaaaatct aagtatcact tttatttttc 9061 tttggatcac cacctatgac atagtaaact tgaagaataa aaactaccct cagaaatatt 9121 tttaaaagaa gtagcaaatt atcttcagta taatccatgg taatgtatgc agtaattcaa 9181 attgatctct ctctcaatag gtttcttaac aatctaaact tgaaacatca atgttaattt 9241 ttggaactat tgggatttgt gacgcttgtt gcagtttacc aaaacaagta tttgaaaata 9301 tatagtatca actgaaatgt ttccattccg ttgttgtagt taacatcatg aatggacttc 9361 ttaagctgat taccccactg tgggaaccaa attggattcc tactttgttg gactctcttt 9421 cctgatttta acaatttacc atcccattct ctgccctgtg atttttttta aaagcttatt 9481 caatgttctg cagcattgtg attgtatgct ggctacactg cttttagaat gctctttctc 9541 atgaagcaag gaaataaatt tgtttgaaat gacattttct ctcaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 9601 a SEQ ID NO: 4 sequence for coding region (6411 nt): ATGTCTCGATCCCGCCATGCAAGGCCTTCCAGATTAGTCAGGAAGGAAGATGTAAACAAAAAAAAGAAAA ACAGCCAACTACGAAAGACAACCAAGGGAGCCAACAAAAATGTGGCATCAGTCAAGACTTTAAGCCCTGG AAAATTAAAGCAATTAATTCAAGAAAGAGATGTTAAGAAAAAAACAGAACCTAAACCACCCGTGCCAGTC AGAAGCCTTCTGACAAGAGCTGGAGCAGCACGCATGAATTTGGATAGGACTGAGGTTCTTTTTCAGAACC CAGAGTCCTTAACCTGCAATGGGTTTACAATGGCGCTACGAAGCACCTCTCTTAGCAGGCGACTCTCCCA ACCCCCACTGGTCGTAGCCAAATCCAAAAAGGTTCCACTTTCTAAGGGTTTAGAAAAGCAACATGATTGT GATTATAAGATACTCCCTGCTTTGGGAGTAAAGCACTCAGAAAATGATTCGGTTCCAATGCAAGACACCC AAGTCCTTCCTGATATAGAGACTCTAATTGGTGTACAAAATCCCTCTTTACTTAAAGGTAAGAGCCAAGA GACAACTCAGTTTTGGTCCCAAAGAGTTGAGGATTCCAAGATCAATATCCCTACCCACAGTGGCCCTGCA GCTGAGATCCTTCCTGGGCCACTGGAAGGGACACGCTGTGGTGAAGGACTATTCTCTGAAGAGACATTGA ATGATACCAGTGGTTCCCCAAAAATGTTTGCTCAGGACACAGTGTGTGCTCCTTTTCCCCAAAGAGCAAC CCCCAAAGTTACCTCTCAAGGAAACCCCAGCATTCAGTTAGAAGAGTTGGGTTCACGAGTAGAATCTCTT AAGTTATCTGATTCTTACCTGGATCCCATTAAAAGTGAACATGATTGCTACCCCACCTCCAGTCTTAATA AGGTTATACCTGACTTGAACCTTAGAAACTGCTTGGCTCTTGGTGGGTCTACGTCTCCTACCTCTGTAAT AAAATTCCTCTTGGCAGGCTCAAAACAAGCGACCCTTGGTGCTAAACCAGATCATCAAGAGGCCTTCGAA GCTACTGCAAATCAACAGGAAGTTTCTGATACCACCTCTTTCCTAGGACAGGCCTTTGGTGCTATCCCAC ATCAATGGGAACTTCCTGGTGCTGACCCAGTTCATGGTGAGGCCCTGGGTGAGACCCCAGATCTACCAGA GATTCCTGGTGCTATTCCAGTCCAAGGAGAGGTCTTTGGTACTATTTTAGACCAACAAGAAACTCTTGGT ATGAGTGGGAGTGTTGTCCCAGACTTGCCTGTCTTCCTTCCTGTTCCTCCAAATCCAATTGCTACCTTTA ATGCTCCTTCCAAATGGCCTGAGCCCCAAAGCACTGTCTCATATGGACTTGCAGTCCAGGGTGCTATACA GATTTTGCCTTTGGGCTCAGGACACACTCCTCAATCATCATCAAACTCAGAGAAAAATTCATTACCTCCA GTAATGGCTATAAGCAATGTAGAAAATGAGAAGCAGGTTCATATAAGCTTCCTGCCAGCTAACACTCAGG GGTTCCCATTAGCCCCTGAGAGAGGACTCTTCCATGCTTCACTGGGTATAGCCCAACTCTCTCAGGCTGG TCCTAGCAAATCAGACAGAGGGAGCTCCCAGGTCAGTGTAACCAGCACAGTTCATGTTGTCAACACCACA GTGGTGACTATGCCAGTGCCAATGGTCAGTACCTCCTCTTCTTCCTATACCACTTTGCTACCGACTTTGG AAAAGAAGAAAAGAAAGCGATGTGGGGTCTGTGAACCCTGCCAGCAGAAGACCAACTGTGGTGAATGCAC TTACTGCAAGAACAGAAAGAACAGCCATCAGATCTGTAAGAAAAGAAAATGTGAGGAGCTGAAAAAGAAA CCATCTGTTGTTGTGCCTCTGGAGGTTATAAAGGAAAACAAGAGGCCCCAGAGGGAAAAGAAGCCCAAAG TTTTAAAGGCAGATTTTGACAACAAACCAGTAAATGGCCCCAAGTCAGAATCCATGGACTACAGTAGATG TGGTCATGGGGAAGAACAAAAATTGGAATTGAACCCACATACTGTTGAAAATGTAACTAAAAATGAAGAC AGCATGACAGGCATCGAGGTGGAGAAGTGGACACAAAACAAGAAATCACAGTTAACTGATCACGTGAAAG GAGATTTTAGTGCTAATGTCCCAGAAGCTGAAAAATCGAAAAACTCTGAAGTTGACAAGAAACGAACCAA ATCTCCAAAATTGTTTGTACAAACCGTAAGAAATGGCATTAAACATGTACACTGTTTACCAGCTGAAACA AATGTTTCATTTAAAAAATTCAATATTGAAGAATTCGGCAAGACATTGGAAAACAATTCTTATAAATTCC TAAAAGACACTGCAAACCATAAAAACGCTATGAGCTCTGTTGCTACTGATATGAGTTGTGATCATCTCAA GGGGAGAAGTAACGTTTTAGTATTCCAGCAGCCTGGCTTTAACTGCAGTTCCATTCCACATTCTTCACAC TCCATCATAAATCATCATGCTAGTATACACAATGAAGGTGATCAACCAAAAACTCCTGAGAATATACCAA GTAAAGAACCAAAAGATGGATCTCCCGTTCAACCAAGTCTCTTATCGTTAATGAAAGATAGGAGATTAAC ATTGGAGCAAGTGGTAGCCATAGAGGCCCTGACTCAACTCTCAGAAGCCCCATCAGAGAATTCCTCCCCA TCAAAGTCAGAGAAGGATGAGGAATCAGAGCAGAGAACAGCCAGTTTGCTTAATAGCTGCAAAGCTATCC TCTACACTGTAAGAAAAGACCTCCAAGACCCAAACTTACAGGGAGAGCCACCAAAACTTAATCACTGTCC ATCTTTGGAAAAACAAAGTTCATGCAACACGGTGGTTTTCAATGGGCAAACTACTACCCTTTCCAACTCA CATATCAACTCAGCTACTAACCAAGCATCCACAAAGTCACATGAATATTCAAAAGTCACAAATTCATTAT CTCTTTTTATACCAAAATCAAATTCATCCAAGATTGACACCAATAAAAGTATTGCTCAAGGGATAATTAC TCTTGACAATTGTTCCAATGATTTGCATCAGTTGCCACCAAGAAATAATGAAGTGGAGTATTGCAACCAG TTACTGGACAGCAGCAAAAAATTGGACTCAGATGATCTATCATGTCAGGATGCAACCCATACCCAAATTG AGGAAGATGTTGCAACACAGTTGACACAACTTGCTTCGATAATTAAGATCAATTATATAAAACCAGAGGA CAAAAAAGTTGAAAGTACACCAACAAGCCTTGTCACATGTAATGTACAGCAAAAATACAATCAGGAGAAG GGCACAATACAACAGAAACCACCTTCAAGTGTACACAATAATCATGGTTCATCATTAACAAAACAAAAGA ACCCAACCCAGAAAAAGACAAAATCCACCCCATCAAGAGATCGGCGGAAAAAGAAGCCCACAGTTGTAAG TTATCAAGAAAATGATCGGCAGAAGTGGGAAAAGTTGTCCTATATGTATGGCACAATATGCGACATTTGG ATAGCATCGAAATTTCAAAATTTTGGGCAATTTTGTCCACATGATTTTCCTACTGTATTTGGGAAAATTT CTTCCTCGACCAAAATATGGAAACCACTGGCTCAAACGAGGTCCATTATGCAACCCAAAACAGTATTTCC ACCACTCACTCAGATAAAATTACAGAGATATCCTGAATCAGCAGAGGAAAAGGTGAAGGTTGAACCATTG GATTCACTCAGCTTATTTCATCTTAAAACGGAATCCAACGGGAAGGCATTCACTGATAAAGCTTATAATT CTCAGGTACAGTTAACGGTGAATGCCAATCAGAAAGCCCATCCTTTGACCCAGCCCTCCTCTCCACCTAA CCAGTGTGCTAACGTGATGGCAGGCGATGACCAAATACGGTTTCAGCAGGTTGTTAAGGAGCAACTCATG CATCAGAGACTGCCAACATTGCCTGGTATCTCTCATGAAACACCCTTACCGGAGTCAGCACTAACTCTCA GGAATGTAAATGTAGTGTGTTCAGGTGGAATTACAGTGGTTTCTACCAAAAGTGAAGAGGAAGTCTGTTC ATCCAGTTTTGGAACATCAGAATTTTCCACAGTGGACAGTGCACAGAAAAATTTTAATGATTATGCCATG AACTTCTTTACTAACCCTACAAAAAACCTAGTGTCTATAACTAAAGATTCTGAACTGCCCACCTGCAGCT GTCTTGATCGAGTTATACAAAAAGACAAAGGCCCATATTATACACACCTTGGGGCAGGACCAAGTGTTGC TGCTGTCAGGGAAATCATGGAGAATAGGTATGGTCAAAAAGGAAACGCAATAAGGATAGAAATAGTAGTG TACACCGGTAAAGAAGGGAAAAGCTCTCATGGGTGTCCAATTGCTAAGTGGGTTTTAAGAAGAAGCAGTG ATGAAGAAAAAGTTCTTTGTTTGGTCCGGCAGCGTACAGGCCACCACTGTCCAACTGCTGTGATGGTGGT GCTCATCATGGTGTGGGATGGCATCCCTCTTCCAATGGCCGACCGGCTATACACAGAGCTCACAGAGAAT CTAAAGTCATACAATGGGCACCCTACCGACAGAAGATGCACCCTCAATGAAAATCGTACCTGTACATGTC AAGGAATTGATCCAGAGACTTGTGGAGCTTCATTCTCTTTTGGCTGTTCATGGAGTATGTACTTTAATGG CTGTAAGTTTGGTAGAAGCCCAAGCCCCAGAAGATTTAGAATTGATCCAAGCTCTCCCTTACATGAAAAA AACCTTGAAGATAACTTACAGAGTTTGGCTACACGATTAGCTCCAATTTATAAGCAGTATGCTCCAGTAG CTTACCAAAATCAGGTGGAATATGAAAATGTTGCCCGAGAATGTCGGCTTGGCAGCAAGGAAGGTCGTCC CTTCTCTGGGGTCACTGCTTGCCTGGACTTCTGTGCTCATCCCCACAGGGACATTCACAACATGAATAAT GGAAGCACTGTGGTTTGTACCTTAACTCGAGAAGATAACCGCTCTTTGGGTGTTATTCCTCAAGATGAGC AGCTCCATGTGCTACCTCTTTATAAGCTTTCAGACACAGATGAGTTTGGCTCCAAGGAAGGAATGGAAGC CAAGATCAAATCTGGGGCCATCGAGGTCCTGGCACCCCGCCGCAAAAAAAGAACGTGTTTCACTCAGCCT GTTCCCCGTTCTGGAAAGAAGAGGGCTGCGATGATGACAGAGGTTCTTGCACATAAGATAAGGGCAGTGG AAAAGAAACCTATTCCCCGAATCAAGCGGAAGAATAACTCAACAACAACAAACAACAGTAAGCCTTCGTC ACTGCCAACCTTAGGGAGTAACACTGAGACCGTGCAACCTGAAGTAAAAAGTGAAACCGAACCCCATTTT ATCTTAAAAAGTTCAGACAACACTAAAACTTATTCGCTGATGCCATCCGCTCCTCACCCAGTGAAAGAGG CATCTCCAGGCTTCTCCTGGTCCCCGAAGACTGCTTCAGCCACACCAGCTCCACTGAAGAATGACGCAAC AGCCTCATGCGGGTTTTCAGAAAGAAGCAGCACTCCCCACTGTACGATGCCTTCGGGAAGACTCAGTGGT GCCAATGCAGCTGCTGCTGATGGCCCTGGCATTTCACAGCTTGGCGAAGTGGCTCCTCTCCCCACCCTGT CTGCTCCTGTGATGGAGCCCCTCATTAATTCTGAGCCTTCCACTGGTGTGACTGAGCCGCTAACGCCTCA TCAGCCAAACCACCAGCCCTCCTTCCTCACCTCTCCTCAAGACCTTGCCTCTTCTCCAATGGAAGAAGAT GAGCAGCATTCTGAAGCAGATGAGCCTCCATCAGACGAACCCCTATCTGATGACCCCCTGTCACCTGCTG AGGAGAAATTGCCCCACATTGATGAGTATTGGTCAGACAGTGAGCACATCTTTTTGGATGCAAATATTGG TGGGGTGGCCATCGCACCTGCTCACGGCTCGGTTTTGATTGAGTGTGCCCGGCGAGAGCTGCACGCTACC ACTCCTGTTGAGCACCCCAACCGTAATCATCCAACCCGCCTCTCCCTTGTCTTTTACCAGCACAAAAACC TAAATAAGCCCCAACATGGTTTTGAACTAAACAAGATTAAGTTTGAGGCTAAAGAAGCTAAGAATAAGAA AATGAAGGCCTCAGAGCAAAAAGACCAGGCAGCTAATGAAGGTCCAGAACAGTCCTCTGAAGTAAATGAA TTGAACCAAATTCCTTCTCATAAAGCATTAACATTAACCCATGACAATGTTGTCACCGTGTCCCCTTATG CTCTCACACACGTTGCGGGGCCCTATAACCATTGGGTCTGA SEQ ID NO: 5 human TET1 protein 2136-amino acid MSRSRHARPSRLVRKEDVNKKKKNSQLRKTTKGANKNVASVKTLSPGKLKQLIQERDVKKKTEPKPPVPV RSLLTRAGAARMNLDRTEVLFQNPESLTCNGFTMALRSTSLSRRLSQPPLVVAKSKKVPLSKGLEKQHDC DYKILPALGVKHSENDSVPMQDTQVLPDIETLIGVQNPSLLKGKSQETTQFWSQRVEDSKINIPTHSGPA AEILPGPLEGTRCGEGLFSEETLNDTSGSPKMFAQDTVCAPFPQRATPKVTSQGNPSIQLEELGSRVESL KLSDSYLDPIKSEHDCYPTSSLNKVIPDLNLRNCLALGGSTSPTSVIKFLLAGSKQATLGAKPDHQEAFE ATANQQEVSDTTSFLGQAFGAIPHQWELPGADPVHGEALGETPDLPEIPGAIPVQGEVFGTILDQQETLG MSGSVVPDLPVFLPVPPNPIATFNAPSKWPEPQSTVSYGLAVQGAIQILPLGSGHTPQSSSNSEKNSLPP VMAISNVENEKQVHISFLPANTQGFPLAPERGLFHASLGIAQLSQAGPSKSDRGSSQVSVTSTVHVVNTT VVTMPVPMVSTSSSSYTTLLPTLEKKKRKRCGVCEPCQQKTNCGECTYCKNRKNSHQICKKRKCEELKKK PSVVVPLEVIKENKRPQREKKPKVLKADFDNKPVNGPKSESMDYSRCGHGEEQKLELNPHTVENVTKNED SMTGIEVEKWTQNKKSQLTDHVKGDFSANVPEAEKSKNSEVDKKRTKSPKLFVQTVRNGIKHVHCLPAET NVSFKKFNIEEFGKTLENNSYKFLKDTANHKNAMSSVATDMSCDHLKGRSNVLVFQQPGFNCSSIPHSSH SIINHHASIHNEGDQPKTPENIPSKEPKDGSPVQPSLLSLMKDRRLTLEQVVAIEALTQLSEAPSENSSP SKSEKDEESEQRTASLLNSCKAILYTVRKDLQDPNLQGEPPKLNHCPSLEKQSSCNTVVFNGQTTTLSNS HINSATNQASTKSHEYSKVTNSLSLFIPKSNSSKIDTNKSIAQGIITLDNCSNDLHQLPPRNNEVEYCNQ LLDSSKKLDSDDLSCQDATHTQIEEDVATQLTQLASIIKINYIKPEDKKVESTPTSLVTCNVQQKYNQEK GTIQQKPPSSVHNNHGSSLTKQKNPTQKKTKSTPSRDRRKKKPTVVSYQENDRQKWEKLSYMYGTICDIW IASKFQNFGQFCPHDFPTVFGKISSSTKIWKPLAQTRSIMQPKTVFPPLTQIKLQRYPESAEEKVKVEPL DSLSLFHLKTESNGKAFTDKAYNSQVQLTVNANQKAHPLTQPSSPPNQCANVMAGDDQIRFQQVVKEQLM HQRLPTLPGISHETPLPESALTLRNVNVVCSGGITVVSTKSEEEVCSSSFGTSEFSTVDSAQKNFNDYAM NFFTNPTKNLVSITKDSELPTCSCLDPVIQKDKGPYYTHLGAGPSVAAVPEIMENRYGQKGNAIRIEIVV  YTGKEGKSSHGCPIAKWVLRRSSDEEKVLCLVPQRTGHHCPTAVMVVLIMVWDGIPLPMADRLYTELTEN LKSYNGHPTDRRCTLNENRTCTCQGIDPETCGASFSFGCSWSMYFNGCKFGRSPSPRRFRIDPSSPLHEK NLEDNLQSLATRLAPIYKQYAPVAYQNQVEYENVARECRLGSKEGRPFSGVTACLDFCAHPHRDIHNMNN GSTVVCTLTREDNPSLGVIPQDEQLHVLPLYKLSDTDEFGSKEGMEAKIKSGAIEVLAPRPKKRTCPTQP VPRSGKKRAAMMTEVLAEKIPAVEKKPIPPIKRKNNSTTTNNSKPSSLPTLGSNTETVQPEVKSETEPHF ILKSSDNTKTYSLMPSAPHPVKEASPGFSWSPKTASATPAPLKNDATASCGFSERSSTPHCTMPSGRLSG ANAAAADGPGISQLGEVAPLPTLSAPVMEPLINSEPSTGVTEPLTPHQPNHQPSFLTSPQDLASSPMEED EQHSEADEPPSDEPLSDDPLSPAEEKLPHIDEYWSDSEHIFLDANIGGVAIAPAHGSVLIECARRELHAT TPVEHPNRNHPTRLSLVFYQHKNLNKPQHGFELNKIKFEAKEAKNKKMKASEQKDQAANEGPEQSSEVNE LNQIPSHKALTLTHDNVVTVSPYALTHVAGPYNHWV, SEQ ID NO: 6 TET1 catalytic domain, the 1418 to 2136 fragment of SEQ ID NO: 5 ELPTCSCLDRVIQKDKGPYYTHLGAGPSVAAVREIMENRYGQKGNAIRIEIVVYTGKEGKSSHGCPIAKWVLRRSSD EEKVLCLVRQRTGHHCPTAVMVVLIMVWDGIPLPMADFLYTELTENLKSYNGRPTDRRCTLNENRTCTCQGIDPETC GASFSFGCSWSMYFNGCKFGRSPSPRRFRIDPSSPLHEKNLEDNLQSLATRLAPIYKQYAPVAYQNQVEYENVAREC RLGSKEGRPFSGVTACLDFCAHPHRDIHNMNNGSTVVCTLTREDNPSLGVIPQDEQLHVLPLYKLSDTDEFGSKEGM EAKIKSGAIEVLAPRRKKPTCFTQPVPPSGKKRAAMMTEVLAKKTRAVEKKPIPRIKPKNNSTTTNNSKPSSLPTLG SNTETVQPEVKSETEPHFILKSSDNTKTYSLMPSAPHPVKEASPGFSWSPKTASATPAPLKNDATASCGFSERSSTP HCTMPSGRLSGANAAAADGPGISQLGEVAPLPTLSAPVMEPLINSEPSTGVTEPLTPHQPNHQPSFLTSPQDLASSP MEEDEQHSEADEPPSDEPLSDDPLSPAEEKLPHIDEYWSDSEHIFLDANIGGVAIAPAHGSVLIECARRELHAT TPVEHPNRNHPTRLSLVFYQHKNLNKPQHGFELNKIKFEAKEAKNKKMKASEQKDQAANEGPEQSSEVNE LNQIPSHKALTLTHDNVVTVSPYALTHVAGPYNHWV

TABLE 1 Summary of TET1 methylation in tumor and normal tissues Cell lines Primary tumors (% methylated) (% methylated) Carcinomas Nasopharyngeal (NPC) 100% (5/5) 55% (31/56) Esophageal (ESCC)  50% (3 + 1w/8) 18% (7/38) Lung  80% (4/5) 13% (2/16) Gastric  92% (11 + 1w/16) 55% (30/55) Hepatocellular (HCC)  63% (5/8) 42% (5/12) Colorectal (CRC)  64% (6 + 1w/11) 27% (3/11) Breast  56% (4 + 1w/9) 36% (18/50) Cervical  75% (2 + 1w/4) Renal  78% (6 + 1w/9) 28% (13/46) Prostate  33% (1/3) 22% (2/9) Lymphomas non-Hodgkin  85% (11/13) eBL, 50% (3/6) DLBCL, 20%(2/10) Hodgkin 100% (8/8) 78% (5 + 2w/9) Nasal, NK/T-cell (NKTCL) 100% (4/4) 83% (10/12) Screen tissue Nose swab from NPC 50% (8/16) patients Immortalized NP460, NP69, Het-1A,    0 (0/11) normal epithelial NE1, NE3, NE083, cell lines HMEC, HMEpC, CCD841-CoN, HEK293, RHEK-1, Surgical margin breast tissues 20% (1/5) tissues of tumors Normal tissues Normal nasopharynx   0 (0/5) (NPx) Normal breast tissues   0 (0/22) W, weak methylation; NPC, nasopharyngeal carcinoma; ESCC, esophageal squamous carcinoma; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; CRC, colorectal carcinoma; eBL, endemic Burkitt lymphoma; DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

TABLE 2 Sequences of primer used in this study SEQ ID Product Annealing PCR Primers Sequence (5′-3′) NO: size Temp.(° C.) Cycles RT-PCR TET1F GTGCCAATGGTCAGTACCTC  7  329 bp 55 32 TET1R CTGTAGTCCATGGATTCTGA  8 HOXA5F CTGGATGCGCAAGCTGCACA  9  251 bp 55 32 HOXA5R CCATGCTCATGCTTTTCAGC 10 HOXA9F GTGTACCACCACCATCACCA 11  192 bp 55 32 HOXA9R AGCGCGCATGAAGCCAGTTG 12 PCDH7F GTTCCGAGTACCTGAAGATC 13  208 bp 55 32 PCDH7R GTGTTGTCGTTGATGTCAAG 14 TCF4F TAGGGACGGACAAAGAGCTG 15  168 bp 55 32 TCF4R TTGGATGTCCTCCATTCCCC 16 MEIS1F GGAGCCAGAGAGGCCGATG 17  192 bp 55 32 MEIS1R ATGGCGTTGGTATGAGCTGTG 18 SLIT2F TGCTGGCGATCCTGAACAAG 19  260 bp 55 32 SLIT2R AAGATCCTGGAATGCTCCTC 20 ZNF382F CCTTACAGGGATCAGTGTCA 21  173 bp 55 32 ZNF382R CAACTTGCGGATCATATCAG 22 GAPDH55 ATCTCTGCCCCCTCTGCTGA 23  303 bp 55 23 GAPDH33 GATGACCTTGCCCACAGCCT 24 Multiplex TET1F GTGCCAATGGTCAGTACCTC 25  296 bp (exon 2) genomic TET1Int2R GACACTAGAAGTGTCTCTGC 26 DNA- TET1Int4F TGCGATTACAGGTGTGAGTC 27  281 bp PCR (exon 4) TET1R CTGTAGTCCATGGATTCTGA 28 GAPDHInt7F GCCTCACTCCTTTTGCAGAC 29  155 bp GAPDH33 GATGACCTTGCCCACAGCCT 30 MSP TET1m4 GTCGGTAGGGTTTTTCGC 31  173 bp 60 40 TET1m8 CCCAACTCACCGCTAACCG 32 TET1u4 GAGTTGGTAGGTGTTTTTTGT 33  175 bp 58 40 TET1u8 CCCAACTCACCACTAACCA 34 HOXA9m3 ATTCGTTTTTGTTGGGCGTC 35 HOXA9m4 GCAACGAATACAACGTTAACG 36 60 40 HOXA9u3 GGATTTGTTTTTGTTGGGTGTT 37 HOXA9u4 CCACAACAAATACAACATTAACA 38 58 40 SLIT2m5 GATCGGTTTAGGTTGCGGC 39 SLIT2m7 AACAACTAAACATAACGCGCG 40 60 40 SLIT2u5 GGATTGGTTTAGGTTGTGGT 41 SLIT2u7 AAAACAACTAAACATAACACACA 42 58 40 ZNF382m3 GGCGATTAACGGGTCGTTTC 43 ZNF382m5 AAAATTTCCAAACCCGACTCG 44 60 40 ZNF382u3 GTGGTGATTAATGGGTTGTTTT 45 ZNF382u5 CAAAATTTCCAAACCCAACTCA 46 58 40 BGS TET1BGS6 TTGTTTTTTTATTGTGGATTTTTG 47  384 bp 60 40 TET1BGS2 AACCCACCCCTAAAACAAC 48 Cloning TET1-CF CGGAATTCGCCACCATGGATTAC 49 2266 bp 58 18 AAGGATGACGACGATAAGTACCC ATACGATGTTCCAGA TET1-CR GCTCTAGATTAGTGGTGATGGTG 50 ATGATGGACCCAATGGTTATAGG GC

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reducing risk of cancer in a subject, comprising the steps of: (a) treating DNA from a biological sample taken from the subject with a bisulfite, wherein the sample is a nasopharyngeal, esophageal, lung, gastric, colon, rectum, liver, breast, cervical, renal, or blood sample; (b) amplifying a genomic sequence of step (a) to determine the number of methylated CpGs in the genomic sequence, which is SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2, or a fragment thereof comprising at least 5 CpGs; (c) comparing the number of methylated CpGs determined in step (b) with the number of methylated CpGs in the same genomic sequence from a non-cancer biological sample of the same type and processed through steps (a) and (b); (d) determining the subject, whose sample contains more methylated CpGs in the genomic sequence determined in step (b) compared to the number of methylated CpGs in the genomic sequence from the non-cancer sample and processed through steps (a) to (b), as having an increased risk for cancer compared with a healthy subject not diagnosed with cancer; and (d) administering to the subject having increased risk for cancer, a preventative treatment, chosen from the group consisting of modified lifestyle, regular screening, and regular examination.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the biological sample is a tissue sample.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is a nasal or oral swab.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sample is an all blood cell sample, a white blood cell sample, or a platelet cell sample.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the genomic sequence is a fragment of SEQ ID NO:1 comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, or 35 CpGs.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the genomic sequence is SEQ ID NO:1 or
 2. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises a polynucleotide sequencing reaction.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises a polynucleotide hybridization assay. 